Saying Yes

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word," said Mary, speaking these words after angel Gabriel had told her she would be the mother of the Son of God. Every Christmas I take extra time to reflect on the precious birth of Jesus. Mary is often the person I think of most. Why was she chosen? What made her so special? These are questions i ask almost every year. I'm always thinking about Mary's character, her virtue, her personality. This year i noticed something i never had before-Mary's words. What if she had refused? I always put myself in her sandals. An angel comes to me, and tells me i am going to conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. In Mary's words, "I have known no man." Thoughts racing through my head, i ask, "What will my parents say? What will my pastors say? How am I going to explain to people that I'm pregnant? The shame, the rejection, the fear..." would i say yes? Mary did. In one phrase, Mary took on the incredible responsibility, rejection, and honor of being the mother of Jesus. "Be it unto me according to thy word." In one phrase she accepted being the mother of the Savior of the World. In that sentence she risked the chance of getting stoned as a mother out of wedlock. She risked divorce from Joseph...Her belief was stronger than her fear. Choosing a woman of faith, God selected Mary out of thousands of women to be His son's earthly mother. Her acceptance of God's will astounds me. What is God asking you to do?