Guys. Christmas is soon.

I don’t understand how it happened.  I put up my decorations earlier than I ever have before, and it still feels like I have no time. We all know that this time of year is just insane, and it takes a lot of intentionality to be present and gracious when the world is constantly demanding more of our time and energy.

I love that we are preparing for the birth of Jesus. I love making a birthday cake for my kids on Christmas to sing happy birthday to Him. I just think the whole thing is so incredible, and as I get older, the day means more and more. But can I tell you a secret?

There’s one person that is involved in Jesus’ birth that stops me dead in my tracks and makes me want to weep every time I think of her.

Mary.

Mary, the young girl who God chose. Mary, the mother of Jesus.

If there’s one area in the church that’s really trying to divide us, this is one of them. Where do women fit? What does God really think? And before you think I’m smarter than I am, I’m really not here to start a theological discussion on the role of women in ministry. But if you’ve ever wondered about God’s heart for women, start here.

Jesus, the Son of God. The Christ. The Messiah. Our Savior. God gave Him a mom.

He could have appeared on the earth as a man. He could have even shown up as a baby somewhere for someone to find Him. But God chose to honor and trust Mary by making her a mother. A mother to a perfect baby; the Savior of the world.

I can’t wrap my head around it. But I do know this: we sure as heck question what God must have been thinking when He made woman. Tell me I’m not alone. Hormones? Childbirth? The endless multitasking and responsibility? Do you ever just look in the mirror and wonder, “Why am I so freaking complicated?”

I am one thousand percent convinced that Mary was chosen for the rest of the female population to know this:

God cherishes women.

God cherishes you.

And not only that, He thinks you are capable of insanely more than you could ever dream. Mary is the absolute epitome of unqualified. When she was told she’d become pregnant with the Messiah (no big deal), SHE WASN’T EVEN MARRIED.

She was young. Definitely scared. Maybe dramatic. Maybe compared herself to other women around her. There’s no way she didn’t wonder every single day if she was doing it right.

And she had to live knowing that although she was Jesus’ earthly mother, He really didn’t even belong to her at all. He was God’s son. She couldn’t even really take ownership of Him. And if you’re anything like me, this would make you feel like that separates us from Mary’s story. We aren’t raising the Son of God. Our kids make that known every day, don’t they?

But wait, there’s more.

Just like Jesus didn’t belong to Mary, your kids don’t truly belong to you, either.

Those babies of yours? They are first and foremost the children of God. And yet, He chose you. And not only that, He trusts you. An angel spoke to Mary and told her that she would have a son and name Him Jesus. And thousands of years later, whether you are aware or not, God made a sovereign decision to entrust you with His kids.

You, with your anger.

You, with your out of control anxiety.

You, with your issues with your husband.

You, who feels like you can’t get your relationship with God right, let alone raise another person to know Him.

God didn’t just create women as a whole. He created and carefully formed each of us individually with such attention. And He puts His trust in us.

He is trusting us to show others what His beauty looks like.

He is trusting us to model His compassion.

He has entrusted us to exhibit hard work; especially the kind that goes unnoticed.

He has trusted us to model how submission and strength go hand in hand.

Listen to me.

Some will tell you that you should be quiet. Some will tell you that you are much more important than any man. The world wants you to place your value and your strength on your inner self. Some churches may have boxed you in.

Never, ever forget that God chose a young woman to raise His son.

You are not more than or less than. You are exactly how God wanted to make you. You don’t need to fight for your spot. Your spot was made for you, carefully carved and set apart.

What would happen if we began thinking this way for just the next few weeks? As we pull ourselves apart shopping and cleaning and cooking and whatever else we do; choose to settle into our holy role instead of settling into bitterness. What would happen if we thanked God for the way He made us instead of asking Him why we aren’t like everyone else?

I can tell you what would happen. We could change the generations behind us. Not just us. We would change how our daughters and granddaughters would view their place in the kingdom of God.

Settle into your righteous place this season. Chosen. Cherished. Trusted.

 

“Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Grace to you, young woman, for the Lord is with you and so you are anointed with great favor.’ Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, ‘Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift.”

[Luke 1:28-30]