"Highly Favored"

Hail, thou that are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:28b).

Mary is a central figure in the Christmas story and a good example for us all. Unlike Zacharias, she didn't doubt what the angel told her, and what would happen to her was even more incredulous than Elizabeth and him having a child in their old age. Mary was humble, accepting, and said to the angel, "be it unto me according to thy word." She was willing to do whatever God wanted of her, even put up with gossip, a soiled reputation, or what Joseph might say and do. She loved and trusted God.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).

Months later, when her time to give birth neared, she traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Joseph for the government census. Perhaps no one in Nazareth would have helped her in her condition if he had left Mary behind. This couldn't have been an easy journey for her, either. And, of course, when they got there, Bethlehem was so crowded from the influx of all the others who had to register there that they couldn't find a room. Therefore, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the peace of God was upon him (Luke 2:40).

A little later the family would need to go to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath, but we aren't told much about Jesus' childhood until the incident in the temple when he was twelve and lagged behind his parents so that they had to go back and look for him. I wonder what it was like for Mary to parent a perfect child when she wasn't perfect? It might not have been as easy as one would first assume. But all indications are they were close. We don't know what  happened to Joseph, but Mary seems to have been near her Son on several occasions. Even from the cross, Jesus asked John to take care of her. We could learn much from studying Mary's commitment to God.

And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary:for thou hast found favour with God (Luke 1:30).

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