How to Have a Very “Mary” Christmas – Lessons from Mary, Mother of Jesus

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. —Luke 1:26-31 NLT

Ah, it’s Christmastime once again! As you contemplate the traditions, parties, carols, and cookies, how about also preparing your heart to receive spiritual blessings from this wonderful time of the year? Mary, Jesus’ mother, has much to teach us as we enter this special time. Let’s look at three choices Mary made that we, too, would be wise to make.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you
have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. —Luke 1:38 NLT

After hesitantly inquiring how this miracle birth would occur, Mary’s first response to the angel was humble obedience. She already knew who she was—the Lord’s servant. Her heart was His, and therefore, His directions were to be followed and accepted, no matter how strange and surprising.

You and I will face some strange and surprising things on our way to Christmas. Most definitely, they won’t approach the magnitude of Mary’s, but nonetheless, we’ll need to choose how to handle the unexpected. We might experience sickness or canceled flights or conflicts with family members. As much as we want a picture-perfect holiday, we live with imperfect people in a broken world. (We’re certainly not angels ourselves.) Can we serve God with humility and obedience even when our plans change from the way we envisioned them? Will we choose a servant’s heart? If we do, we’ll find the Christmas that God allows to be every bit as precious as the one we had envisioned because God will be with us in the midst. Let’s ask for His blessing this year and then trust what He allows.

Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.”
—Luke 1:46-48 NLT

After Mary’s meeting with the angel Gabriel, when he announced God’s plan to her, Mary left her village and visited her cousin Elizabeth, who, in her old age, was also experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. The very young and very old mothers bonded as they marveled at what God had done. Most likely, Mary did not know what Joseph’s response would be at this point. Luke tells us that she left “a few days later” after her encounter with Gabriel (Luke 1:39). Mary could have spent her visit fretting and worrying about Joseph’s response and her own parents’ response. She could have spent it trying to figure out a plan of her own. Perhaps she did spend some time wondering what would happen next. The Bible doesn’t say. What it does reveal is that Mary’s overwhelming response was joyfulness and awe. Her beautiful song, known for centuries as the “Magnificat,” is filled with joy and worship to the One who saves. It’s a triumphant and tender song that resonates in the hearts of all who love the Lord Jesus.

How about you and me? Will we sing this Christmas? Will we set aside the worries and distractions of life and spend time rejoicing at the great news that God entered the world as a newborn baby to feel what we feel, to live righteously among us, and then to die in our place? Surely, that huge gift deserves our praise, worship, and songs! Let’s take time to stop and sing this Christmas season, worshiping the King who came so humbly to earth. Whether you belt out the tune yourself or listen to others sing, rejoicing is definitely in order. Let’s not waste the season on worries and regrets and what-ifs. This is a time to be amazed.

But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
—Luke 2:19 NLT

When all was said and done, Mary treasured up all that had happened—and remembered. From Joseph’s startling announcement that he wasn’t going to divorce her because he, too, had heard from an angel to the lowly birthing in a stable, Mary remembered. She thought often, Luke says, about “all these things.” Did she whisper a prayer of thanks that God had helped her give birth without her mama or other village ladies present? Did she smile in remembrance of the shepherds crowding into the stable to kneel in worship? Luke could write about this because Mary lived deeply in each moment of her story. She was fully present, soaking up all that God was doing, and thus could recall it all at will.

We silly humans too often either dwell on the past or worry about the future and, in the process, forget to enjoy the present moments of daily life. We yearn for what we don’t have instead of savoring what we are given. This Christmas, let’s stop. Let’s notice that old ornament that reminds us of our grandparents. Let’s enjoy the scent of pine and woodsmoke. Let’s savor this holiday whether we are alone with the One who made us or in a crowd. Don’t let the holiday become a blur. Stop and be still and know that God is present with you, guiding you, His servant, toward song!

Father God, give me a servant’s heart this Christmas. Help me to please You with my responses to the unexpected. Help me to marvel anew at all You did when You came to earth for me. Put a song in my heart, Lord, that I might worship You. Help me to stop and be present this Christmas, savoring the beauty of the day and enjoying what You’ve given me this year at this time. In Jesus’ Name, the One who came for us, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

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