GUEST POST from Don – Mary’s Story

MARY’s STORY

[Background:  About 3 months ago I thought about writing about Mary, based on Luke 2:19.  I decided to create an opportunity for artists to participate.  A poet friend wrote a short poem.  At least one fledgling artist did a painting.  We have not shared our combined works yet, but we will.  Thanks for reading … and Merry Christmas!]

Moms, do you remember the first time you held your baby?  You were exhausted, and still in pain.  The umbilical cord had not yet been severed.  You were so happy, so full of love.  When you held your child in your arms for the first time all your exhaustion and pain melted away.  His soft attempts at crying brought tears to your eyes and a smile to your lips.    

That child was the most beautiful in the whole world at that moment.  No other mother would agree, but you knew.

Imagine Mary.  Holding her firstborn and KNOWING he was the only one of his kind.

Unlike you, she was prepared.  An angel of God told her she would bear a son and he would be the Son of God.  She also was devout (which seems like nothing you would connect with giving birth).  Thus, she praised God for His goodness.  She was blessed by God himself.

Like you, she was unprepared.  She was young and inexperienced, but maybe she had much experience helping other young mothers…some things we don’t know.  We do know she was blessed and she believed what had been told her.  She was also given a sign when the angel gave her the news; her cousin, who was beyond childbearing age, was pregnant.  So, of course she had to go see; and indeed Elisabeth was clearly with child.  Who knew?  

In some artistic paintings you could pick her out of a crowd.  She’d be the one with the brilliant halo.  In real life she looked far more ordinary.  She was a girl from Judah.  She wore what others wore.  She looked the part.  What made Mary special, as with all true followers of God, was her heart.  Devotion, trust, and openness to what God desired had nothing to do with how she looked outwardly.  God’s desire and Mary’s hopes were the same.  Her thoughts, words, and actions were models of her hopes.  Some young women were crude, thinking only of boys or marrying into wealth; but Mary was sincere in her desire to serve God first, future husband and family second, and nation third (theirs was occupied by Roman soldiers and government).

She was not the first mother of Israel who had birthed her first in a strange place.  Some had been slaves in Egypt or captives in Babylon, some in desert tents surrounded by thousands also in tents (sounds of birth barely muffled), others in walled cities under siege.  Some held future prophets, priests, or kings, but none had held the son of God.  She was not the first who faced the risks of pregnancy and birth.  Some died in childbirth.  Some lost their children.  But she had a promise from God, “You shall give birth to a son…”  Her husband, also godly and of willing heart, was present to rejoice with her.  In fact, it was Joseph who named her son Jesus, because he said, “the angel said our son would save his people from their sins.”  “Jesus,” she whispered, “a strong name.” She already knew his name was Jesus.  Gabriel had told her that, too.

Most mothers give birth at home in their own bed surrounded by family and friends.  There are celebrations.  There is joy in the community.  Gifts are received.  Mary was in a stable, surrounded by friendly animals, in a place distant from family, friends, and home.  Who would celebrate this birth?

Then came the visitors from the nearby hills smelling of … sheep, … they had nothing to give, except praise to God in heaven for the Savior, the only one of his kind.  As was in days of the prophets, still now, Godly folk were anticipating the coming of Immanuel.  Immanuel is not a name, but a description of the character of the Messiah.  He will be “God with us.”  The shepherds reported the praise of the angels who proclaimed “Joy to the world.”  The angels also proclaimed him “Immanuel.”  “This child is the Messiah!  God with us.  The One who will save his people from their sins.  A baby who is only a day old is all that?  Well!  Even kings have to be born.” she said with amazement.    

Not many days hence, Mary was feeding her baby boy and looking at his face.  She suddenly realized he is looking at HER…at her.  Gazing into the wells of his eyes she realized she could get found there.  Found!  That reveals her sense of being at that moment.  She has not only found her earthly purpose, but a new connection with God.  Others will be found, too, through this child.  

Now he sleeps peacefully.  She reflects on that which is in her heart.

Luke 2:19 (KJV) “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”  One of the prophets of old had said, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

As with all children, Jesus grew and developed.  Boy Howdy!  Never was a two-year-old more purposeful.  It was as though he “couldn’t wait” for what or who was next.  Walking, running, climbing.  He was always on a “mission” and always interested in those he met.  

Then came the visitors from afar.  They saw the star that marked his birth.  They recognized Jesus as the KING, the only one of his kind.  They bowed before him, and he … he stood straight and touched each shoulder as a blessing.  They honored him with expensive gifts.  Could they stay?  Yes.  Mary prepared a simple supper, such as she had.  The house was sufficient, so they stayed for it was late.  Early, before the sun had risen or the dew was melted away, they prepared their mounts for the homeward trek.  Before they mounted, Jesus blessed each for the journey with a hug.  A hug that looked like he was embracing the whole world.  They would find their way safely home, even though their dreams had been troubled.  Yet, they had come, they had seen, and they would share their wonder with their own families.  They had been blessed by the KING on whom they had sought to bestow blessings.

Mary had grown up in a devout home.  Because the prophet Isaiah said that the Sabbath should be a day of delight, celebration and rejoicing, her father told stories from their spiritual history.  Close neighbors and extended family often shared this meal with them and then her father would recount a story of a faithful person.  Mary and her siblings had heard about many patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets.  Mary had only before thought of them as adults.  At the end of each story her father would ask, “What did this hero do because he or she believed God. “ Abel by faith presented a better sacrifice.  The sacrifice was not what made it better, but his trust in God.  Enoch pleased God and was taken without dying.  Noah obeyed and the result was that of all, only his family survived.  Rahab protected the Israelite spies and earned a place in the royal line.  Moses refused to accept earthly rewards and forsook Egypt.  Mary’s imagination as a child had hoped that she would find a place in that long line of honored believers.  Now, here she was holding the Son of God because her trustful obedience pleased God.  Her story would be told, too.  More importantly, the story of her son.  She loved the God of her fathers, the source of all good things, the source of this child.  

Luke 2:19 (KJV) “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]

See more GUEST POSTS from Don!