Location: Nazareth
Time: Circa 5 B.C.
Primary Scriptures: Luke 1:26-28 — The angel Gabriel visits Mary, announcing her role in God’s plan.
Mary’s mother, seated at a simple table in their modest home in Nazareth, speaks with a mix of pride and excitement. The small room is filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, and the hum of daily life fills the air. Her voice is warm, and her eyes shine as she reflects on her daughter’s future.
Mary’s Mother:
Nazareth is not much to speak of, I’ll admit. It’s a quiet village, perched on the hillside, tucked away from the bustle of the trade routes below. Some say nothing good comes from Nazareth, but I disagree. This little village has been my home, and it is here that I’ve raised my daughter, Mary.
Mary — she is my joy, my pride, my beautiful daughter. A mother always dreams for her child, and my dreams for her have always been simple: that she would marry a good man, raise a family, and live a life of faith and kindness. She’s a good girl, a nice Jewish girl, raised in the ways of the Torah, respectful and obedient. She has a quiet strength about her, a gentleness that touches everyone she meets.
When Joseph came to speak with her father about betrothal, I was thrilled. Joseph is a carpenter, steady and hardworking. He may not be wealthy, but he is kind and honorable. What more could a mother ask for? I’ve seen how Mary looks at him, her eyes full of hope for the life they will build together. It warms my heart to know she will be cared for, that her days will be filled with the laughter of children and the work of a happy home.
I’ve spent much of these past weeks preparing her for her new life. We’ve worked together on her wedding garments, stitching every seam with care. I’ve shared with her the wisdom passed down from my own mother, lessons about running a household, about raising children, about loving a husband. She listens with such attentiveness, her hands busy but her heart open. I know she will make a wonderful wife.
But I must admit, there is something about Mary that feels… different. She has always been devoted to God, more so than most girls her age. Sometimes, I see her gazing out over the valley, lost in thought, as if she is hearing something the rest of us cannot. I’ve always believed God has a special purpose for her, though I couldn’t say what.
Then came the day that changed everything. Mary returned from her chores, her face pale yet radiant, her eyes wide with wonder. She told me of a visit from an angel — Gabriel, the messenger of God. “Greetings, you who are highly favored!” he said to her. “The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). At first, she was troubled, as anyone would be. But Gabriel assured her, telling her not to be afraid, that she had found favor with God.
And then came the words that stunned us all: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31-32). Imagine it! My Mary, chosen by God to bear the Messiah. The angel spoke of a kingdom that will never end, of a child conceived by the Holy Spirit. It was more than I could comprehend, and yet, Mary’s response filled me with awe: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
In that moment, I saw a strength in her that I hadn’t fully understood before. My little girl, barely old enough to marry, had been chosen for the most extraordinary task in all of history. And she accepted it with faith, with courage, with a humility that leaves me speechless.
Now, as I sit here, I find myself filled with both joy and fear. Joy, because I know God’s hand is upon her, guiding her steps. Fear, because I also know the road ahead will not be easy. What will people say when they learn she is with child before her wedding? How will Joseph react when he hears the news? And what of the child Himself? What kind of life awaits Him, this Son of the Most High?
But I remind myself that God’s plans are always greater than our own. He has chosen Mary for this, and I believe He will give her the strength to walk this path. As her mother, my role now is to support her, to pray for her, and to trust in the God who has always been faithful.
To those of you listening, I say this: Trust in God’s purposes, even when they seem beyond understanding. He works through the ordinary and the extraordinary, weaving His plans into the fabric of our lives. My Mary is proof of this, a reminder that even in a small village like Nazareth, God’s light can shine brightly.
Closing Thought:
God’s plans often begin in the most humble places and with the most ordinary people. Trust in Him, for His ways are always good.
— Mary’s Mother
Share this post