Mary
She brushes off a fly with a firm hand, and, just as firmly, brushes off her dreams as she kneels on the cold, unyielding ground and sees her life unravel by its seams. Unfaithful girl! She knows that’s what they’ll say. Joseph will disown once her shame is plain to see. Who would have thought the day would come when she’d disgrace a man’s good name? People will whisper when they see her—those who shame or censure and the ones who care. An angel story will be no good, she knows— they’ll think her mad. Lord, what a load to bear…. Such were her thoughts, but all that Mary said was “Be it to me according to your word.”
For all those who know what it is to have their lives upended, their dreams dashed, for those who feel at the mercy of circumstances beyond their control, for those trying (perhaps through gritted teeth) to say “yes” to what God is doing in their lives—this is for them. For you. For me.