Lessons We Can Learn From Mary
By Rebecca Hale
One of my favorite parts of the story of Christ’s birth, as told in the New Testament, is Mary and the few details we learn about her. She is arguably the most mentioned woman in the Bible due to her sacred calling as the mother of Divinity. These are just a few thoughts I had about what we can learn from the young woman called to carry, deliver, and raise the Redeemer of mankind.
1. Our circumstances are not coincidental
In the time and place in which Mary lived, being pregnant outside of wedlock was very
dangerous for a young Jewish woman, the punishment being death. However, the Father’s plan required that Christ be the literal Son of God with a mortal body to sacrifice for us. A loving Heavenly Father would not put Mary in a situation that could compromise her life and the life of her unborn child without providing a way for her to overcome it. For that purpose, He intentionally put people in her life that provided support, cared for her, and protected her.
● Joseph- According to Jewish law, Joseph had every right to punish Mary, just
because he thought she was guilty. Being engaged to her, Joseph could have
publicly accused his fiancee of not being chaste, and she would have been
subject to the law. Despite the culture he grew up in, Joseph’s tender feelings for
his betrothed were stronger than his suspicions. Even before he knew of her
innocence, Joseph refused to turn Mary in for possibly having an affair. His first
thought was to simply end their relationship. When he learned the true paternity of
her child, I’m sure he was overcome with relief. Being a righteous and obedient
man, he heeded the words of his angelic visitor and stayed with Mary, protecting
her and the child in her womb. The humble carpenter was the man Mary needed
by her side and the fatherly figure that the young Christ child needed.
● Elizabeth- It is no coincidence that the mothers of Christ and John the Baptist
were related. Being much younger than Elizabeth, I’m sure it was comforting for
Mary to be in the company of another woman who also conceived under
miraculous circumstances. I imagine that when Mary stayed with her cousin, the
two women were able to offer each other support during a time of uncertainty.
That time with her older cousin probably sustained the young mother-to-be, giving
her strength and courage.
Just like Mary, we have all been blessed with certain circumstances to help us achieve our
potential. It could be the people we know, the places we live, the strengths we have been blessed with, or any other circumstance that may appear mundane. We must be able to trust in God and His ability to help us become who we were meant to be.
2. Heavenly Father knows our true identity and our potential
Like many of us are, I’m sure Mary was hard on herself. She may have focused on her
imperfections and compared herself to others. I can only imagine how it would have felt to be addressed by an angel as “highly favored” and ‘blessed…among women.” Heavenly Father
could see past Mary’s mortal imperfections and see her for who she truly was, the faithful
woman who would be responsible for raising the Savior of the world. When our Heavenly Father looks at us, he doesn’t see the same inconsequential blemishes and shortcomings that we obsess over. He sees who we are trying to become and he sees the pure intentions of our
hearts. Just as Gabriel testified to Mary of her importance to God, we can be reminded of our
own divine importance through daily miracles and the sweet confirmation of the Holy Ghost. .
3. Heavenly Father’s plan for us is often not what we expect
I’m sure that when young Mary daydreamed about the day she would be a mother, it probably didn’t include a stable full of sheep in a strange city. Raising mankind’s Redeemer was probably different than how she imagined her motherhood journey. She must have felt extreme pressure, and being familiar with the scriptures, she may have felt grief over the foreboding crucifiction. While there may not have been anything glamorous about only having a manger to lay her newborn son in, this was what the Lord had always planned for her. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Carrying this baby on her journey to Bethlehem was fulfilling ancient prophecies that had been foretold by prophets long before her birth. Our lives often don’t turn out the way we hoped they would, but if we are living righteously, we will be led to the life we were meant to live. Humbly following the Lord will lead to a life full of joy, even if the journey was unexpected or unpleasant.
