May it be to me as You have said

Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Annunciation, 1898. Oil on canvas, 57" × 71½". Philadelphia Museum of Art.

 

 

Last year I wrote a blog post on Mary’s response when the angel told her that she would be the Mother of the Christ Child – her response was “May it be to me as You have said.”.   I continue to be amazed at Mary’s response to this unexpected news in her life.

Mary is an impressive woman – young or old.  God obviously thought so too as He calls her favored among all women.  Her expectations  for her entire life  are disrupted – yet she was able to immediately say … “May it be to me as You have said.”  She responds with these words of trust and faith to the God she serves without even knowing how Joseph or her family will respond to this news.

I have been pondering Mary’s response again, since I spoke on her life at the women’s retreat last month.  Once again, I am reminded at how little of my life I control and how God constantly wants me to trust Him with my life plans.  I am slowly (too often painfully slow) learning to respond with these words of trust and faith.  Last year, I wrote that “I wanted to be found faithful to my all faithful God.  I want to be able to trust in His sovereignty plan no matter what happens.  I want to say with certainty and boldness “May it be to me as You have said’ when life is hard.  My desire is to be found faithful in the midst of troubles and pain.”   And now at the end of this year, I can honestly say that I have grown to respond more like Mary, and truly my life has been less stressful and more peaceful.

This year I echo these words again, “May it be to me as You have said.” Of course, my life circumstances are different this year, yet I still need to response to God’s plans (even broken hands) with these words.

Lord, remind me over and over again, that nothing is impossible with God.  May I be able to say, for the rest of my life, in good and hard circumstances “May it be to me as You have said.” Thank you for helping me to respond  with these words  throughout the circumstances of the last year.  Thank you for Mary’s example of trusting You even when our expectations for life are in shambles.  Thank you for helping me in my unbelief, continue to help me to really believe and trust… because you came to save me from my own unbelief.  Amen

What is happening in your life today that you need to say as Mary did, “May it be to me as You have said.”

 

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Just as Mary Treasured These Things in Her Hearts

Please take a minute to read the sweet Mother’s Paycheck stories on my blog comments for the Mother’s Day Contest. Each one is such a treasure and a good reminder that it is not “stuff” that makes us happy. These comments remind me of how ….

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

“But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.  Luke 2:51

There is still time for you to share your Mother’s  Paycheck and possibly receive one of the 5 gifts offered.  Share your Mother’s Paycheck by leaving a comment at https://sandrajo.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/a-mothers-day-contest-featuring-your-mothers-paychecks/.  Contest ends at midnight tonight.

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May it be to me as You have said…

Mary from the movie The Nativity (an enjoyable movie for your family)

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

How could Mary say this — her plans had just been completely changed.  Her expectations for her entire life  had been disrupted – yet somehow, she was able to immediately say … “May it be to me as You have said.”  I am at least double Mary’s age and yet, I am still not able to say a statement like this easily.

It has been a hard couple of weeks in our home and an even hard couple of months and it truth be told – a hard couple  of years.  In the midst of each unexpected life change (like a wrecked car last week) – I do not find myself easily or immediately  saying – “May it be to me as you have said’ …. instead I find myself saying “May it be to me as I plan or need”…  I guess it is obvious that I do not have the heart of young Mary.

I want to be able to found faithful to my all faithful God.  I want to be able to trust in His sovereignty plan no matter what happens.  I want to say with certainty and boldness “May it be to me as You have said’ when our car is rear-ended, when there is no money, when I don’t feel good, when my friends hurt and when life is hard.  My desire is to be found faithful in the midst of troubles and pain.   

Lord, remind me over and over again, that nothing is impossible with God.  May I be able to say, for the rest of my life, “May it be to me as You have said.”  Help me in my unbelief, help me to really believe and trust… because you came to save me from my own unbelief.  Amen

What is happening in your life today that you need to say as Mary did, “May it be to me as You have said.”

 

 

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