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| From December '09 |
(I'll spare you the lament about how in VEGAS, it feels more Labor-Day-ish, weather-wise.)
So, I'm cranking the Chesnuts roasting on an open fire, and putting up Oh, Tannenbaum, and baking some sugar cookies (that I'm NOT eating, but giving away.)
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| From December '09 |
It's great. I love Christmas! LOVE IT! It's just the most wonderful time of the year!
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| From December '09 |
And I've been thinking lately, a lot about Christmas, and why we celebrate, and the REASON. We all know it's to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even if you're not a Christian, you know WHY Christmas exists in the first place.
But, lately, I've been pondering this beautiful girl too.
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| From December '09 |
Jesus' mother, Mary.
Mary has been a hero of mine since I was a tiny girl. I used to play "nativity". (I know, I'm a nut job, but that's beside the point.)
Here is a girl, 13, maybe 14 years old, engaged to a guy probably 8 years her senior, and WHAM, one day an angel shows up and announces, "Hi, Mary, how are you? You'll be birthing the Savior of all the World."
And, so she does.
She leaves her home, her family, all she has even known, climbs onto a donkey and sets off her with her new husband, who after some shell-shock, and contemplation, is cool with it!
And can we take a moment to fully realize she rode a DONKEY across the DESERT, and she was 9 months PREGNANT.
Now, I have been great with child three times now, and riding in a CAR is misery. A donkey? Nope, not gonna happen.
And then, not only did she birth her baby in a barn, but stuck him in a feeding trough. Pictorial depictions of this event make it look all comfy cozy.
But, have you ever been in a stable? Flies. Everywhere.
And she went on to mother that baby and teach him and prepare him for his one and only mission: Save the World. Literally.
Perhaps she's been on my mind so much because I'm in "that" place. Much of my day is spent in child-rearing, and I feel like 84% of my day is spent keeping children ALIVE, (no lie, I've had to give Oliver the full-on heimlich manuever twice) much less teaching them the things of God.
It blows my mind.
Mary is my hero. I am so grateful that she was willing to climb up on that donkey and bounce her way to Bethlehem. I'm thankful she stood in the face of possible death and went ahead and did what God asked of her.
I'm so thankful that Mary birthed that baby boy so all the world could know life.
So, Merry Christmas everyone. And isn't it funny that the word "Merry" goes before "Christmas"? Coincidence? I think not.
8 comments:
Good post Morgan...even with the tears. I love you!!!
I have always been humbled by Mary's response to the angel--behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy word. And each baby I have has caused me to marvel even more what her amazing part of the Atonement must have cost her and she gave it all willingly. Thank you.
And it never fails to amaze me that she could have said NO! If she had, someone else would have had that role. But she didn't. She said yes, knowing all it would mean. She said yes.
GREAT way to begin the season! I love your view of this. Now I'm thinking there should be no reason for me not to go natural when I go into labor (within the next few days hopefully).
Beautiful post Morgan, thank you!
Thanks for the reflection. No one can say it like you :-)
You don't know me, but I stumbled upon your blog by reading someone else's blog, and their blog led me to your blog, etc.
I just wanted to comment and tell you how much I appreciated your post. It was beautifully written, and gave me a lot to think about. I too am so grateful for both my savior and for His earthly parents. Mary is my hero too.
Hey Thanks Anon- stick around and don't be a stranger. Feel free to un-Anon yourself if you feel like it. :)
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