Breath of Heaven

we've all read the story of Jesus' birth.

Did you ever think about Mary?

in that time, girls got married much earlier than they do now.

the bible doesn't say how old Mary was, but it's possible that she was anywhere from 13-16. 16. I'm 16.

I always find myself thinking about how Mary must have felt.

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the Virgin's name was Mary." 

So firstly, Mary was engaged. She was still a virgin.

"And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' but she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." 

So Mary is probably wondering firstly if she's crazy or hallucinating. Secondly, why angel of the Lord is speaking to her? And, why was he calling her a Favored One that the Lord was with? I mean, confusing and scary and awe inspiring at the same time, right?

"And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." 

The bible doesn't say why Mary was chosen, other than she had favor with the Lord. I doubt that Mary even knew why.

At the moment she was probably freaking out, seeing as the angel told her 'Do not be afraid.'

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"

wow. 

Talk about information overload.

She, Mary, a virgin, was going to conceive in her womb and bear a son. Not just any son, but the son of God.

wow.

"And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'"

I mean, it might have made sense if she had been with a man, but she hadn't. She was probably not only freaking out, but also confused.

"And the Angel answered her, 'The Holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God. And behold, you relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God."

His words must have given Mary comfort, for her answer to this shocking news was:

"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."

Mary had just received the most amazing/scary news of her life, and she accepted it.

No wonder she found favor in God's eyes. 

She never protested. She accepted.

She had faith like a child.

I don't think I could do that.

Mary was risking everything.

She could loose her betrothed, for she didn't know that the angel would also visit him. For all she knew, he would think she had been with another, and leave her.

She could lose her family, for unmarried pregnancy like this, when even the betrothed might leave her, was a scandalous disgrace.

She would be shunned in society. 

Mary was risking everything. She knew it.

and she accepted.

Mary is the girl who I want to be like.

The girl who was willing to risk everything for the Lord.

The girl who didn't ask questions.

The girl who accepted.

"Do you wonder as you watch my face, if a wiser one should have had my place?  But I offer all I am for the mercy of your plan. Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me." 

-Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

"I am not brave. I'll never be.

The only thing my heart can offer is vacancy.

I'm just a girl. Nothing more.

But I am willing, I am yours.

Be born in me."

-Be Born in Me by Francesca Battestelli