In my teen years, there was an MTV show called "Teen Mom". This TV show followed several different teen moms through the trials and triumphs of pregnancy and being a first time mom. Some moms chose to terminate the pregnancy, others made adoption plans, while others chose to parent.
Throughout the series we learn about the teen mom's families, their significant others, their communities, and their support systems (or lack thereof). The rollercoasters they all get on while at times are entertaining, can also be gut wrenching and unfathomable. The show did not aim to encourage other teens to become teen moms, much rather the show shined a light on all the messy, ugly, hard stuff that can happen.
This had me pondering another pretty famous teen mom- Mary. It is believed that Mary was somewhere between age 12-16 when she birthed Jesus. Much like many of the teen moms on MTV, Mary was not yet married (although she was engaged) an did not have a great support system.
I can only imagine sitting next to Mary when the angel visits her and tells here the "good news" that she will soon be pregnant. I probably would have first laughed, out of disbelief, and then trembled in fear when I started to fast forward the tape in my mind as I learn what this meant for Mary.
But Mary was brave! Mary was faithful! Mary knew the path (well sort of) that was now laid before her and she would follow it through. Even during the early stages of her pregnancy she was still praising God. Check out Luke 1:46-49 (where Mary is visiting another mom-to-be, Elizabeth); "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. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me."
I wonder if we had the sort of bravery and faith Mary did, what kind of life we would be living? If we all trusted God's word no matter what outcome our brains could conjure up, what kind of world we would live in? What sort of daily miracles would we witness and attest to day in and day out?
In this holiday season of hustle and bustle, I challenge you slow down, reflect, and ponder not only the hardships in your life, but also all the times God has come through. What moments or seasons did he provide for you, when you maybe least deserved it? What miracles, quinky dinks, and small happenstances came to fruition in you or a loved one's favor that was actually the works of our heavenly father?
Too often we fail to recognize the works of our heavenly father in our day to day lives. We get too busy, we multitask too much, and our human brains can only process and absorb so much in a day. I find that is it usually days, weeks, or maybe even years later that we can look back and truly see his hands were covering our unique situation minute by minute.
If we can reflect on these and recall that he did it then, surely we can have a smidgen of Mary's bravery and faith that he will do it again!
"Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy Has come to make you new? This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy Will give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy Has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby You kiss the face of God"
Song: Mary Did You Know