Mary, Did You Know?

Have you ever come face to face with an angel?

Most of us have never experienced such a glorious encounter. When God sent Gabriel to give Mary a message, it is here that the birth story of Jesus begins. The star, the stable, and Bethlehem are included but Nazareth is where this birth story unfolds.

Gabriel told Mary that she was going to conceive and give birth to the Son of God. This was some message!

A young teenager was going to have a baby while still a virgin. It was unbelievable! The message is over 2000 years old, and people still have a hard time accepting it.

Can you imagine how difficult this news must have been for Mary to accept?

A popular Christmas song asks, “Mary, did you know?”
It makes you wonder.

Did Mary really understand exactly what God’s plan was?
Probably not.

Maybe she knew some of the prophecies, but no first-time mother truly understands what motherhood is all about.

God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Luke 1:28 says that Gabriel greeted Mary by saying, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” After understanding God’s plan for this Child, Mary says in Luke 1:38, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

The whole plan sounded overwhelming, but Mary’s immediate response was yes.

Can you feel what she was feeling?
Imagine what was racing through her mind.

Did Mary understand what the Lord wanted her to do?
I don’t think so.

I have never met a first-time mother that truly understands what motherhood is going to take.

Obviously, Mary knew this was a big commitment. And she knew God well enough to readily obey when He entrusted her with this assignment. But she could not have possibly known all that motherhood would entail. No mother ever does.

Your journey into maternity probably started a little differently than Mary’s. I know mine did. No angel came and told me what to expect, what to name my baby, or what my child would accomplish in life. But I can identify with Mary in some other ways. Maybe you can, too.

Like Mary, I didn’t know what to expect. But like Mary, I understood that children are a blessing from God. And like Mary, if God favored me enough to make me a mother, I would accept His blessing. So like Mary, I committed to raising any children He gave me to the best of my ability.

My journey into motherhood began nearly 20 years ago, and I have grown so much over that time. Here are some things I learned about being a mom along the way:

Motherhood involves discernment, much prayer, a lot of laughter, plenty of tears, and an abundance of trial and error. Motherhood is laying in the bed at night exhausted and just wanting the baby to sleep through the night, but continually getting up to check on your child when he or she finally does stay asleep all night. Motherhood is hiring a sitter for a well-deserved night off, but calling home to check on the kids every hour while you’re out.

Motherhood is finally making the decision to go out to eat, and having to leave the restaurant as soon as the food arrives because the baby won’t stop crying. Motherhood is knowing where all the bathrooms are and always having to sit at the end of the row close to the exit. Motherhood is knowing with certainty that you picked the right-colored cup for your toddler and finding out just how wrong you were mid-tantrum in the aisle at the grocery store.

Motherhood is wanting your child to outgrow a certain phase, but then missing it when your child races to the next stage of life too quickly. Motherhood is making funny faces in the mirror and taking selfies with those cute, chubby hands hanging onto your shirt. Motherhood is just wanting to be able to put your child down long enough to stretch your arms, and then your child is your size and you’ll never be able to pick them up and hold them like that again.

In motherhood, the days seem to take forever, but the years fly by. It is the greatest thing any mom will do, the hardest thing, the most important thing, and the most rewarding thing. And it changes you in a way nothing else can, because motherhood means making a space in your heart before the baby even arrives. This is why miscarriages can be so heart shattering.

Mary felt so much of this with Jesus. Mary was not chosen because she was perfect. Neither were you. Neither was I. We were all chosen because we were favored. God wanted to be kind to us. He chose Mary to mother Jesus because of His favor and kindness. And He chose you to mother your child or children because of His favor and kindness. Children are truly a gift, and I am blessed and grateful that God favored me enough to make me a mom.