Mary, did You Know?
Mary gently pulls her baby closer, rocking him as she softly hums a lullaby. The baby's lashes flutter against his cheeks, and his breathing evens out as he drifts into sleep. She moves carefully to maintain the peaceful atmosphere as she kisses his warm forehead, a simple act that fills her heart with deep gratitude for being chosen as his mother.
With tender love, Mary gently places her sleeping baby on the hay in a manger. She holds his tiny hand in hers, captivated by the perfection of his delicate fingernails, each one a tiny masterpiece. She runs her thumb over soft, velvety skin, and his small fingers instinctively curl around hers.
Memories of the night an angel visited her and revealed she would bear a child flooded her mind and soul.
“Greetings, favored woman!” the angel said to her, appearing out of nowhere. “The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28)
She shakes her head in wonder, her mind drifting back to that unforgettable experience. The image of the radiant angel is imprinted in her memory as it spoke directly to her, its dazzling presence taking her breath away.
“Me, favored by God?” The words echo in her mind, sparking her curiosity about their true meaning and the message the angel was bringing.
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David.” (Luke 1:30, 31, 32)
“Me? But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” (Luke 1:34). Mary chuckled softly to herself as she thought about the absurdity of the angel’s message.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
"How can this be? How can this tiny, innocent baby boy, with his delicate features and soft, fragile cries, be the Son of the Most High God?” Mary touches the baby’s head, captivated by the memory of the angel's words. Everything the angel promised had come true.
She looks down at the child as he stirs quietly, his small arms stretching and then curling back in as he settles back to sleep.
“How can I hold such greatness in my arms? Can I bear the weight of being the mother of The Messiah?” Mary questions. She begins to weep softly, overwhelmed by a sense of unworthiness. The desire to hold her baby close is overwhelming, and she gently lifts him from his manger.
"Emmanuel," Mary whispers, her voice trembling with emotion, “Do you know, my child, you are God with us?" she asks her sleeping child as she gently rocks him and caresses his face.
In the soft glow of the stable, Baby Jesus turns his head toward the comforting sound of his mother's voice.
“How can I see you as my savior while nurturing you as my son?”
The baby softly whimpers, signaling that she must feed him soon. Mary gently strokes his head, calming him.
"Sweet Baby Jesus," she smiles at him. "Have I told you about the many angels who announced your birth to the shepherds while watching their flocks? I’ve been told it was a song of the most astounding beauty.
"Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!" (Luke 2:14).
“And you won't believe this, my child," Mary continues softly, her voice filled with wonder. “The angels told the shepherds not to fear because this was such good news of great joy! (Luke 2:10) They told the shepherds they would find you wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12) They left their flocks to search for you and found you exactly where the angels told them you would be.”
Tears slip down Mary's cheeks again, in awe of it all.
“Oh, Son of God, I was chosen to hold you in my arms and to hear the shepherds' story of when the angels appeared to them. This treasure is priceless, and nothing can be worth more. How can this be?”
The baby stirs from sleep, and Mary begins to feed him. She watches him nursing, humming a Hebrew song from her childhood. He finishes feeding, and she gently lifts him to her shoulder. The baby snuggles into her neck as she pats his back. Mary softly kisses his forehead.
"Is this what it feels like to kiss the forehead of God?" she wonders in admiration, a profound sense of reverence overtaking her. "How can this be?"
Mary tenderly lays Baby Jesus in her lap, awed and deeply in love, listening to his soft baby sounds.
"Mary, do you understand?" She hears a familiar voice.
“Yes, Father God, I understand," she replies. "He is Your Son, and His mercy will extend to all those who fear Him. He will show strength, and healing will be found in His hands. He is the Lamb of God. He is the Messiah.” She gently touches His small hands again.
Mary stands to place her now-sleeping baby boy back into his manger bed, gently cupping his tiny cheek. She understands that he needs rest to grow strong and become all he is meant to be.
“I will hold all these things in my heart, and treasure them,” she whispers to him, “and who knows Jesus?” She smiles as she watches him sleep peacefully. "You might just walk on water!"
