Blessings

Luke 1:31 - 38

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

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

The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God."

And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary was told that she was going to be pregnant. It says that she will conceive. That means when Gabriel came to visit her, she was not pregnant yet. The Bible never mentions again when she actually has the Holy Spirit come upon her, but I can bet that it was very quickly after the visit.

For most women, this is exciting, wonderful news. I think Mary, being young and already spoken for was scared. But she also knew about the foretold Messiah and realized that she was going to be his mother. What a responsibility she was given! Each of us that take on the responsibility of parenting, in any capacity, know the overwhelming burden and care and love we have for children. But to take care of Jesus? How would we react to that responsibility? Could you forgive yourself when he fell down and scratched his knee? Do you think the normal everyday, growing up things hat a child goes through, he went through? I think so. I think he played and cried and hurt. He was human, after all. Mary must have been chosen because she must of had the patience and understanding of what God really wanted for her. She must have been caring and loving and helped him grown in to the 12 year-old that went into the temple and taught the leaders. Mary must have rubbed her stomach everyday, and wondered at what all the Lord had entrusted to her.

Can you be trusted with the little thing that God had given you? Do you look in wonder during this time of year at the blessings that he has given you and helped you with? I am thankful for another year with my parents, husband and kids. Challenges have come up this year that is unexpected, but sometimes it makes you appreciate more what you have. Think about your blessings and what God has entrusted you with this weekend.