“But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

I have been thinking about Mary quite a lot lately. It is Epiphany now; all the hullabaloo of Christmas is over- the gifts opened and perhaps forgotten, the decorations put away for another year. The diet has been started and has faltered. But I keep thinking about Mary, and those days in Bethlehem and the star, and shepherds and wise men.

Where were all the women? They were there, no doubt. Just not mentioned in the narrative we have at hand. But there must have been someone there to help: clean the least disgusting corner of the stable, bring hot water and clean cloths, assist in the birth and clean up after, bring food and drink. Mary and Joseph had so little and needed so much; it stands to reason that God provided a midwife for His Son’s birth.

But sometime, somehow, Mary must have opened up about that night; she must have shared the story of how it all happened, and about the visitors; the choirs of angels, lowly, smelly shepherds and haughty wise men in luxurious garb. She must have been frightened, in pain and anxious about so much. Yet she trusted that God would see her and Joseph and the tiny babe through this test and the many more that would come in life. She trusted that angel of annunciation…“let it be to me according to your word”, she said (Luke 1:38). She trusted through the long trip to Egypt, and back, through Christ’s childhood and His ministry in the countryside. A humble, young maiden became the vessel of God’s promise to His people, and trusted that God knew what He was doing.

So, too, do we trust? Looking out from our comfortable, safe environment onto the surging crowds of upset people, the fractious rhetoric of politics and protest, the daily/nightly media news of bad things and bad people and terrible things to come, do we trust? Do we turn to the quiet, mindful time of prayer and reflection to ask God for patience and understanding, trusting Him to lead us in the right direction? Do we trust that God will provide a “midwife” in our time of need, to see us through the rough places?

Prayer: Dear God, as we turn to You in prayer and praise. Open our eyes to the help You have provided to us and to the opportunities to be that help to others. Open our hearts to trust in Your grace and strength on our journey through life. Amen.