Welcome to
the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!
Merry Christmas
from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy
these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate
their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through
and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.
We’re giving
away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items
(books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter
now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls
blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at
the Pearl Girls blog.
If you are
unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what
we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help
women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy
of Mother
of Pearl, Pearl
Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all
GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.
***
Just Like Mary
By Carla Anne
Coroy
Mary. Amazing
Mary. Mother of Jesus. We marvel at her simple, faith-filled acceptance of
God’s will for her life. There’s so little written about Mary in the Bible. We
know almost nothing, really, about this woman that God chose to parent His Son.
Many have
speculated about the exact age of Jesus’ mother. How old was she, really? What
would it have been like to be greeted by an angel—and told you would become
pregnant by the Spirit of God?
I wonder about
other things sometimes, though. Like if she had morning sickness, or gained a
lot of weight during her pregnancy. Was she overdue, or was baby Jesus born
right on time? Did she mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for the real thing
before labor really started? Was it a fast labor or did Joseph have eighteen
hours to get that place into birthing readiness?
Most women who
have ever given birth to a child have shared pregnancy stories. Everyone’s
story is unique and interesting. Surely Mary’s was, too!
Then there are
the stories of potty-training and conversations on how to get the baby to sleep
through the night. Did Mary bounce Jesus on her knee while sharing recipes with
other young moms?
We cannot find
answers for these questions in Scripture. And as interesting as it might be to
share pregnancy stories with Mary over a cup of coffee (maybe in heaven?) and
get her tips on potty-training, we really don’t need to know any of that to
love the Son she bore.
But Mary’s
example raises questions about me and my own life that get under my skin.
Am I the kind of
woman God will choose to be part of His plan? Do I trust and love my God enough
to give faith-filled answers like she did? If there were just a few paragraphs
written of my life for future generations to read, would those words reveal a
heart of willing submission to God?
“I am the
Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38, NIV)
God has not asked
me to carry the burden of His Son in my womb. There are other burdens He is
asking me, and you, to carry instead. Are we being the women He needs for the
part of the plan we’re living in now? Am I saying to Jesus today, “May it be to
me as you have said”?
During this
Advent season, let’s prepare ourselves to be used by God, filled with faith and
anticipating His grace—just like Mary.
****
Carla Anne
Coroy is a Christian speaker and blogger, and the award-winning author
of Married Mom, Solo Parent. She ministers to a wide audience through her
website and blog at www.carlaanne.com.
Carla Anne has served full-time with organizations such as Youth for Christ and
Crown Financial Ministries, and is currently developing mentoring resources for
women and an international mentoring organization for youth. She also serves as
a staff writer for the online magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women and
is a spokesperson for Faithbuddy.com. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her
husband and four homeschooled children.
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