Someday Devotional: Day 12
Devotional by Sandi Patty (2000)
Luke 1:39-41
“…Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea… and greeted Elizabeth.”
I love the excitement that I glean from these verses. Mary was so excited, “she hurried.” I feel as though she couldn’t wait to share the good news with someone, and that someone was Elizabeth. Think about all Mary had been through up to this point. Here was this lovely young Jewish woman engaged to be married, when along comes the angel of the Lord to share news with her that will dramatically alter the course of her life. She was afraid, she was confused and troubled, she questioned, she surrendered, and she quietly affirmed her faith. She then shared the news with Joseph, who had to “sleep on it.” Joseph, who could have demanded shame, offered her grace. What began as a troublesome journey, turned into an awesome gift. Mary was ready to share her news with Elizabeth. In addition, Elizabeth was ready to rejoice with her. Literally, Elizabeth and her baby began jumping for joy they were so excited.
How terrible for Mary if she had to take this journey alone. However, there were persons in her life that celebrated with her as they walked with her. We all need those persons who will support us in good and in bad times. Those relationships are a gift from God. I feel so blessed to have such persons in my life. I have a group of girlfriends who know me, many times, better than I know myself. They help hold me accountable - or to put it another way, they help keep me conscious and focused on God. My husband, Don, and I also have a group of couples we meet with on a weekly basis as we move through this journey of life, marriage, family, carpooling, etc…. I have to say that these relationships in my life take work, just like any other important relationship. It demands from me truth and honesty about where I am in my walk. It demands vulnerability. It calls me to welcome challenge. It calls me to listen to sometimes very hard to hear truth. It is these relationships that I, too, “hurry to” when I need someone with whom to rejoice or someone with whom to weep.
If you have those very special friendships in your life, I hope you celebrate them. If you find yourself alone on this journey, my heart’s prayer is that as you earnestly seek to be all God wants you to be, that he will send a special person. Remember that NOTHING is impossible.
Excerpt from devotional Someday: A Book of Days
Copyright © 2000 by Sandi Patty
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