12 Days of Christmas Grief Relief - Day 8

Debbie Reaves, regular contributor to Treasures of Encouragement, Debby's Devotions, leads us to the life of young Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, our Redeemer. When the angel announced her pregnancy, she surrendered to the purposes of God. She surrendered knowing the pain she would experience as an unwed mother in the context of her culture. Would she have surrendered so willingly if she had a glimpse of that terrible day of crucifixion? Based on the song of Mary, I have a strong feeling that she often returned to this profound moment when the angel declared, "Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God." In those dark moments that come with parenting every child, I think Mary returned to that moment, when armed with the promise of God's favor, she declared, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." And with that surrender, she claimed the promise of Christmas Presence, that wherever God's pathway led, He was walking with her. But let's hear Debby's take on this precious moment.

I marvel at Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Luke 1:38, Mary knows who she is and declares it. And it is only because she is willing to acknowledge herself as the servant of the Lord that she is able to make the following statement: "May it be to me as you have said." Mary's response challenges me. Can I say that with the same confidence Mary had? Can you? Do we know who we are? Can we step out in this same kind of faith and boldly say, "Let it be, Lord?" Consider Mary's situation. She knew that she and Joseph (if he didn't reject her) would be the objects of others' gossip and condemnation. If he did reject her, she knew that an un-wed mother-to-be would most definitely face public humiliation as well as being stoned to death. No one would ever believe her conversation with the angel, or the possibility of her becoming impregnated with the Son of God while remaining a virgin. She would lose favor with her family and friends. And, how could she ever convince Joseph of the truth of what had really occurred? Yet, without debating God and in blind faith, Mary was still willing to risk everything, including her life when she declared: "Let it be, Lord."

As we move towards the New Year, the Lord will approach us with His divine will for our lives. How will we respond? Will we first weigh the cost of what He desires of us before we can say, "Let it be, Lord?" Will we remember, as did Mary that we are here for one purpose and that is to be God's servants? Can we trust God with that same child-like faith? It is our hope that we will be prepared to respond to God's demands on our lives, for it is when we can say: "Let it be, Lord" that God will begin to do unimaginable things through us.

I also encourage you to visit the website of Griefshare where you will find more articles on Surviving the Holidays. This is one of the best sites I have found for grieving families: http://www.griefshare.org/holidays/#articles

In His Grip,
Sharon