As
Christmas-time is approaching and through celebrating Advent, I
cannot help but think of how the story of Mary relates to the story
of teen moms involved with YoungLives.
My favorite thing about Mary is her response to it all. She was
young. She wasn’t married yet. She was probably afraid of how
others around her would respond. I imagine if it were me, I would ask
God to choose someone else, but she did the opposite. Her response
was a beautiful way to receive and obey what the Lord is asking her
to do. “My soul magnifies
the Lord,
and
my spirit
rejoices in God
my Savior,
for he
has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For
behold, from now on all generations will
call me blessed;
for he
who is mighty has
done great things for me, and holy
is his name.
Luke 1:46-49.
What faith!
I
always think of the teen moms I serve as I think about Mary. It
sometimes seems unfortunate. It often seems like it is wrong for a
girl to have a baby at such a young age. It is a perspective that is
understandable, however it is important to remember, it is all a part
of God’s plan. I think of Samantha. I have had the privilege of
getting to know her over the past few months as she was in the midst
of her pregnancy. At 15 years old, she has admitted that she was
afraid. When
asked if she could change anything, she
would have waited. However, she knows that she was chosen by God to
give birth to her baby, Isaac. She gave birth to him a little over a week ago
and has shown show much strength and has been fearless. The love she
has for her baby boy is big. The love she has for him is a picture to
me of the way Christ loves us. The name Isaac means laughter, I know
that he was named that for a reason. I truly believe that Isaac will
bring joy to Samantha as she raises him.
While reading a devotional from She Reads Truth
today, it said “Whether you bear the title of mother, sister,
professional, teacher, friend, neighbor—there is nothing common
about the unique calling God has placed on your life or that dream
that he has planted inside of your being.” I want to seek out and
receive the calling that God has placed on my life. I want to take
joy in being obedient to it, just as Mary and Samantha have taught
me.
