Mary did you know? I wonder?

I have began to ponder  (ok so that word is to big for me) think about the Christmas story this year.  Is it just me or do most mothers tend to gravitate towards Mary the mother of Jesus...and what she must have been thinking.  With 3 Christmas' now being in some stage of motherhood...I seem to have been thinking about Mary alot.  I listened to "Mary Did You Know"  So that just made me think about it more. 

I have to wonder, Did Mary Really know?  I mean all of it?  His whole life?  I mean I know the Angel told her that "He shall save His people from their sin." (Matt 1:21)  And "Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)  But that does mean she thought it over right??  I mean, she didn't really have a choice in the matter...but If had been highly favored in Gods site...enough to bear His SON...I don't think I would want to change my situation either.  Although, if I thought to much...I would probably freak out and think...there is NO WAY I can do this.  I mean...RAISE GOD"S SON???  And if she knew everything?  And just HOW he was going to "save His people from their sins".  If I knew all that I think it would break my heart.    I look at my daughter and if I knew all that her life was going to hold...and couldn't change any of it.  How would I re-act?  How would I feel?  Would I have a broken heart?  Would I be happier beyond words?  Would I have a bitter-sweet moment?  COULD I HANDEL IT???

 I am just glad that God really knew what woman to pick.  I can't imagine how she felt knowing that "Goldfish" feeling in her tummy was the Son of GOD! And then riding on a DONKEY, in the last part of her pregnancy???  I had a hard time sitting in a church pew without my back killing me...let alone a DONKEY!!!  I won't even go into the accommodations she had for delivery...BOY are we girls spoiled and think WE have it rough!!!  Finally, that squirming bundle of joy, she had to wrap in swaddling clothes.  Did she bring them herself?  Or did she find them in the stable?  Did she go into early labor...or had she planned a home delivery once they got back from Bethlehem? And she had to lay him in the Cow's feeding dish.  Did she make Joseph change out the hay to fresh hay ?  Or was she to exhausted and excited taking in her newborn son to worry about that?  Did she count his fingers and toes?  And at what point did it hit her that she was looking into the eyes of the Son of God and kissing his tender face?

A baby always seems to bring out the best in people...what kind of emotion did it bring out in Mary and Joseph?  And every new mother has guest...but dirty smelly shepherds?  I mean, today we pass around the sanitizer before anyone touches or holds our new babies.  And if you have the sniffles...a new mommy gets quite antsy for you to hold her new precious child.  But these guys probably had grubby hands...and most likely didn't smell good.  Or did they try to clean up?  The angel did tell them they were going to go see JESUS...so did they think about their appearance?  And Mary, no doubt exhausted, welcomed in her guests smelliness, grubbiness and all!  What a woman!

Then instead of being able to go home..they got a new home and moved in.  And after some settling in they heard some commotion going on out front of their house.  Three men, with very expensive clothes were approaching. Mary and Joseph had began to notice that bright star that bathed their house every night, was very bright!  (ok, so maybe that part is not totally scriptural...but I think after some time I would notice a big star that didn't seem to move from being over my house!)  I wonder did Mary and Joseph's neighbors notice all that was going on???  How did Mary feel about these 3 important guest?  Did she have any sort of feeling of embarrassment about the quaintness of their house.  Or where the kings gracious and make her feel so comfortable? The presentation of their gifts had to be amazing!  I wonder what she did with them? And after all that did she invite them in for food and fellowship?  I have no doubt Mary was a gracious hostess.  After all God knew about all this, and knew all the phases she would have to go through.

Then the dedication, Simeon and Anna...I can only imagine the pride that went through those new parents hearts.  The same pride that any parent has when someone makes over their new child!

All those years in between the events surrounding his birth and when he was 12 and they found him in the temple are not talked about.  I can only imagine the memories Mary and Joseph  made.  How did they feel when he cut his first tooth?  Was Jesus bald or did he have LOTS of hair as baby?  What did they do on his birthday?  Just how excited was Mary when Jesus took his first wobbly step?  Can you imagine having such an OBEDIENT child?  What was his first word?  Did he say Ma Ma or Da da first.  Was he a Daddy's boy or a Mommy's boy?  (I think he was a Mommy's boy)  What was his favorite toy?  What was school like for Jesus?  What was Jesus favorite food?  Did He like sweets?   Just how was his childhood?  You mothers who are more experienced then me...could continue this list.  I know we are talking about Jesus...and I don't want to Humanize nor diminish just WHO HE IS...But He did have a childhood...and He did have a normal mother who went thru all the normal emotions that any of we Mommy's would go through.  I just wonder???

This Christmas, let yourself wonder.  You might be amazed how the story hits home in your heart...it has mine!!!!