As I work on my Advent Bible study I am moved to tears this evening. To be honest it doesn't take too much to move me to tears these days. Probably the short Alaskan days... But I began thinking about the profound moment Mary first held Jesus in her arms. There she sits in a quiet manger scene with cattle lowing about her and I doubt she even noticed. She got to look into the face of God, Emmanuel and hold Him, our Savior in her arms. She got to kiss the physical face of THE Lord. Woah. I can only pretend I can imagine the feeling of holding the sweet gift of Christmas, all wrapped in swaddling cloths in my arms. During this time of year, I praise my Lord for the gift of a tiny King who was born to save the world, I never once gave thought to how Mary must have felt when she bore Jesus and through her Emmanuel's life began. Because of her obedience and humility a promise was fulfilled to all mankind. It is also a revelation to me when I think about how God knows a man's heart and mind. How many people in this world can really give birth to the Savior of all mankind and not become a little arrogant that they were chosen. He knew Mary would remain humble in her service to God. She never boasted, she praised, but she never took credit for God's doing.
Tonight I am in awe of God's goodness. Of Mary's sweet blessing. Of everything. Life isn't perfect. Mary gave birth to the only perfect human of all time in a manger with animals and probably some of their "eeww" (Silas's word for poo). Truthfully, we aren't promised an easy life or perfection, we are promised His ever-present self. Thanks to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is always with us for us to call on. Because of His sacrifice we have access to Him any and all the time. Jesus was born so we could have hope. He died so we didn't have to. He rose again so we could live.
