“She’s just a girl…”, reflects the beautiful song by Brandon Heath, “Does she even know, that she’s just changed the world?” As I listen, wrapping my Christmas presents, I can’t help but picture this quiet humble girl who said a simple word -yes, and the story of this universe has changed forever.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”… “Mary responded: ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 2:35.38)
Oh how I want to get into Mary’s head right now. She might have been just a girl, but she’s really so much more. She’s a main character in this story of love told countless times, and yet she only has a few simple lines in this script. It’s not what she said but what she didn’t say that jumped out for me from the pages of the story. “But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke2:19). This little bit of information is oddly tacked in between the account of the angels singing and shepherds rushing off with excitement eager to spread the wonderful news of what just had happened. What they had witnessed was too extraordinary, too wonderful to keep to themselves. But not Mary. She just treasured and pondered all the wonderful events and interactions deep in her heart. She certainly wasn’t just a girl to the One who chose her. What made her special? It’s obvious that God didn’t choose her for her ability to speak, write or effectively spread the word. Maybe it was that quiet, gentle spirit, the ability to keep things deep within her heart, that made her the chosen mother of the Savior. There isn’t much on the pages of the gospels about what Mary did, and even less about what she said. She was happy in the background, behind the scene, with the catering crew. She was fulfilled to be given a chance to serve and respond to a need, like she did at the wedding where the host ran out of wine. Here in the manger, she was happy to just take it all in. The wonder of the moment, the tender new life she was holding in her arms, the radiant faces of all the people who came to see the newborn King. She never felt a need to say: “Look what happened here today!” She left this to others. She just pondered. She would not forget a thing.
If Mary kept a journal, I would give anything to be able to read it. I wish I could have even a glimpse of her ponderings and her sweet conversations with the Almighty God. She must have been something special in her heart to be hand picked by Him. She believed the impossible. She accepted the unexplainable. She surrendered her life and her fate, even if it meant being put at risk of being shamed, rejected or even killed. In her culture there would have been no excuse for a pregnancy outside of marriage. She trusted God in the face of this enormous risk and gave herself entirely, without reservation. Was there any fear or anxiety in her? Did she hesitate? We don’t see it from the Bible account. She responds: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” These are the precious words. They reflect the attitude of heart and the purity of her faith. She didn’t need time to process all that was said to her, weigh the risk, or work up her courage. Courage came instantly from knowing God personally, having been in the relationship with Him. She knew right there that her destiny was revealed to her and there was only one response – yes.
I don’t have Mary’s journal, but I do see her in a handful of short accounts. She didn’t crave the lime light. She didn’t ask for attention of any kind. She never assumed that she would became a star of the greatest story ever told. Her eyes were entirely on her Son. Always. And all the way to the cross. Her very few words that were recorded always pointed to Him.
When I read Bible stories and when I’m touched by them in a personal way, I usually ask myself: “What is my application?” Just something I learned early on in my Christian life and what always served me well on this faith walk of mine. I want to take something away from my encounter with Mary. I love her humble and quiet spirit. I can identify with the way she treasured deep in her heart all the lessons she was learning while taking her place in the middle of the miracle of all miracles. I tend to do internalize things like Mary did. But unlike Mary, I have something else that was given to me for a purpose. I am holding a pen. I always have, as long as I remember. It’s a tool that has been fashioned for my hand. It takes me to the platform that was prepared for me. Mary said “yes” when it most mattered. What I hope to do is to also say “yes”, when I am asked not to keep things to myself, even if there is a risk in speaking my heart. Her confidence in the Lord allowed her to abandon all self-preservation. I want the same kind of confidence two thousand some years later. Who knows, perhaps it will help to change the outcome for someone when they find themselves at the fork in the road.
We all are holding something in our hands which was given to us in order to change our world. For some of us it’s a paint brush, for others a computer, yet others have a gavel and their platform is a court room. What are you holding in your hand? What is your platform? And will you say “yes” when your turn comes to change the world in which you live?
Introverted but not silent.