Following Mary’s Example

At this very moment our home should be full lots of activity, laughter, food and Christmas festivities. But

instead, I’m in our recliner, under my blanket, watching the local evening news. I have been “under the weather” since Saturday. Yes, tonight was to be my side of the family’s Christmas celebration, here at our home.

To say I’m disappointed doesn’t begin to touch on how I’m feeling tonight.

This is one of those events that is very special to me, and it’s one I look forward to all year long.

And I believe I could have made the best of it, and could have faked how I truly felt tonight. But then, my eyes are a dead giveaway…they reveal I don’t feel well. They look terrible. But the thought of someone else in my family getting sick because of me made me feel even more terrible.

I knew we needed to postpone.

And so we did…to just the day after Christmas. I’m trusting I’ll be better by then. (I pray I am!)

So what do we do when things don’t go our way? There was nothing I could have done to change this…it’s something out of my control. Yes, I was upset and sad at first, realizing my family wasn’t coming over tonight, and I couldn’t understand why, of all times, must I be sick today?!! I don’t understand it, but it’s pretty clear God allowed this to happen for a reason. I may never know why. But I could either accept it or be miserable.

I chose to accept it and make the best of it.

I then thought of Mary, the mother of Jesus. When the angel, Gabriel appeared to Mary and said she would conceive and give birth to a son and name Him Jesus, what did she say? “I am the Lord’s servant.” (Luke 1:26-38) She didn’t complain. She didn’t say, “Why me?” She didn’t say through tears (like I did today), “I hate this.” She accepted what God had for her and moved forward.

Now, I do realize being pregnant with, and giving birth to the Savior of the world at 15 years old is in no way comparable to me being sick today. But thinking about Mary and her response to God helped me today. If things aren’t going quite the way you expected them to go today, this week, or this Christmas season, may Mary’s example encourage you as well.

God’s plans are perfect for us…even when ours are not. May God bless you, especially today. (And I would cherish your prayers for my healing!) 🙂