Be It Unto Me

“And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according the Thy word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38 KJV)

Once a month the women of our church gather to study the Bible apart from the men. Last night, we held dove into the details surrounding Mary’s late stages and plot twists of pregnancy and birth. By the end of the evening, as wives and mothers, we had a whole new respect for her wild journey to motherhood and amazing response to unforeseen circumstances: she treasure and she pondered. (Luke 2:19) We collectively came to the conclusion that Mary had a grateful heart and a grateful heart is crucial in staying with Jesus over the long haul. Mary was with her Son from conception to ascension: she alone received that privilege.

We were wrapping up our time together when one of our precious ladies spoke up. She said something to the effect of: “I know we didn’t read the beginning of Mary’s story tonight, but I’ve been thinking about Luke 1:38 for months. ‘Be it unto me according to Your word.'” This dear woman explained how Mary’s prayer of acceptance had become her prayer of surrender.

I had made the ladies ornaments to commemorate the evening: white clay hearts hard-pressed with an old doily, leaving the delicate impression of beauty on each smooth surface. At the close of our evening, we prayed to ask for God’s help in cultivating and maintaining our own heart of gratitude. And then we called it a night. Later, after I was home and in jammies, I posted this photo of the ornament on Facebook. A friend I’d pick up on a missions trip many years ago made a comment on the picture; about the ‘pressing in’ of the doily and how it ‘left an imprint’ on the heart. Her words marked my mind and I woke up this morning thinking about them; carefully connecting the dots anew with Mary’s prayer of unprecedented acceptance.

“Be it unto me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38 KJV)

Mary allowed the Lord to indent her life in new and uncomfortable ways. She surrendered her uterus; dare I say the most intimate part of the female frame? She allowed God to have His way with her heart and He left an exquisite impression upon it. Sure, Mary was profoundly impacted by the incursion, but ultimately her life was deeply enriched a result of her surrender. I imagine ours will be as well.

So today, as we make our way toward the manger at the end of the month, what if we had the courage to align our prayers with Mary’s plea? What if we truly believed that complete acquiescence to God’s perfect will would actually make us all the more lovely in the long run?

Lord, please forgive us for our reluctance in surrender. We forget that we can trust You entirely. Mary’s magnificent story reminds us, even rebukes us: good things happen in the lives of ladies and men who yield to Your will. Strengthen our commitment to concession. Help us remember that You created these frames, You alone get to determine our use. May we believe our very best existence is always found in giving ourselves bad to You. Be it to us according to Your word. Amen.