That the betrothal turned sour proved to the village that fairy tales were too good to be true. Talk of indescretions began swirling at the well and the doorways of homes where the villagers spoke in hushed tones. Joseph seemed displeased with his betrothed, whose curves seemed to be filling out and who began to glow in her countenance. Could she be ... ? The best and brightest among them was glowing, but there seemed to be a tarnish in it. Folks dropped their heads and turned away from her when she went to fetch her household water from the well. No one bid her good day as she passed through the market. Even Joseph seemed distant as of late, his small graces and attentions waining.
"May it be to me as you have spoken," was the only response her lips could speak when the heavenly visitor revealed to her Elohim's desire. But did she know just how divergent her decision would make her appear to everyone? Did she know her contented life would be so utterly disturbed by agreeing with God's idea, and partaking in the Divine plan?
Maybe. Maybe she could already hear the whispers, feel the cold shoulders, the harsh assessments of good folks who could never understand the amazing truth of what was happening to her, to them, to the world, and the history of all mankind.
Even after Joseph had decided to take her in marriage after an encounter by the same heavenly visitor, her way did not become easier or her vision of the future clearer.
As the months and years unfolded the unlikely family could only take one day at a time. Through the mundane activities of daily life, they could only remain steadfast in their faith they were existing both in the common life they had always known and in the celestial domension of eternity.
Mary believed, even when she did not understand or have any promise of understanding. She lived, tended her family, and pondered all these amazing affirmations in her heart. God did not stop evil men from doing evil. But He let the unlikely family know they had to run for their lives to live for some years in a strange land. God did not overtly tell His chosen people the Messiah had come. But a twelve year old boy astounded the teachers of the law and pharisees in the temple courts by His astute assessment of the law and current events while his parents frantically searched for Him. And in those years silent to history, Mary watched her oldest son grow in the grace of God and in favor with men. She watched as Joseph worked and taught the boy the family business. She watched as He became as she once was, favored, before that fateful visit, and perhaps could not understand how his body could be pierced, or how a sword would pierce her own heart.
She did not understand. But she believed. And she reported to her cousin, Elizabeth:
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Luke 1:46-55 NLT
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