"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
Christmas is pregnant.
Pregnant with possibilities. Pregnant with purpose. Pregnant with promise. Think about it. For 9 long months Mary had carried the seed of God’s promise within her womb. She also had 9 months to ponder the mystery of what God was doing and why He was doing it this way. Among the recriminating looks, whispers as she passed by and loneliness only an outcast can feel, Mary must have more than once wondered if she’d made the right decision. Yet how could she deny what was happening to her and her body? How she must have eagerly longed for that day when all of the discomfort, inconvenience and sacrifice would finally give way to the birth of her son. Then all the pain would be over...right?
We celebrate Christmas because of the birth. For us it marks the beginning. But for Mary it was actually a culmination. It was the realization of a dream. It was the climax of her story. She was a mother. It is like that moment of childhood ecstasy we all have experienced when we are finally allowed to unwrap the gift that has been taunting us for weeks under the tree. Next time you think about Christmas remember the birth. But never forget the pregnancy. Before God births anything in your life there will first be that season of conception and pregnancy. Being pregnant is never easy. But take it from Mary. In the end it will all be worth it. Christmas should remind us all that the seeds that God has planted will in the fullness of time bring forth the blessing.
- Is the hardship you're experiencing now preparation for something wonderful?
- Give an example from your own life of how uncertainty gave birth to joy?
- Pregnancy is synonymous with expectancy. What are you expecting God to bring to life in you and your future?
"Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain -- your life will never be the same." Cathy Crimmins>> 21 Days of Christmas - Family
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