Mary's Response

This next portion of scripture is Mary's response to her cousin Elizabeth's exclamation that Mary is a blessed woman to be chosen to carry the Son of God.

I read it this morning and it really affected me...I'll explain how after you read the scripture.

Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary's Song
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."

Here is what happened to me last night. I went to my sister's Christmas recital. Let me tell you about my sister. She's the consummate over-achiever. Everyone loves her, and tells her how awesome she is - often. She succeeds at everything she does. Her work and her studies are both in the area of music - which is her life passion. She

was doing college level trigonometry in high school. She organizes, plans, and runs literally every event that the singles group in my church does. She is the most sought after performer in her college. It's just incredible how successful and popular she is. Every week she's telling me about a different guy at her school that she has had to turn down because there are so many who want to go out with her.

I'm not exaggerating!

Well, last night I started doing something very dangerous - I started comparing. I tried to measure my life up to hers. I fell miserably short. I work at a dead-end job. I don't like what I'm doing, I don't think I'm very good at it. Any talent that I thought I might have had, I never had the opportunity to develop.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like a failure. I started to hate my sister. I started to wish everyone loved me the way they loved her.

Then this morning I ready Mary's song.

Look at how humble Mary is. She never sought to put herself ahead. She was never in the spot light. Her song goes like this: He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

The Lord was speaking very clearly to me through Mary's song. I knew that I was being proud. I wanted the praise of man more than the praise of God. I was not content to be a humble person. I wanted all the bells, whistles, and attention that my sister was getting. I need to humble myself, and remember The Lord will lift me up in his timing, and until then, I will say with Mary:
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.