“For nothing is impossible with God.” — Luke 1:37.
This verse has always held special meaning for me. Throughout the years, I’ve considered it my theme for living. It reminds me God can do anything. He’s a big God. He’s all-knowing, all-powerful and always in control. No matter what we do, he knows what he’s doing.
And during this Christmas season, those thoughts ring true for me more than any other Christmas past. I’ve experienced how big my God really is, that he truly is in control.
I know the story of Jesus’ birth but, until this year, I’d never thought to put myself in Mary’s place, wondering how she felt when the angel Gabriel came to her saying she was with child. Being only 16 and a virgin, Mary hadn’t been trying to conceive a baby, yet she was given this amazing gift. She would not only become a mother but a mother to the son of God.
Furthermore, Mary was told her relative Elizabeth, who was considered barren in her old age, was also with child. God had granted favor over her and her husband, Zechariah.
Yes, indeed, God can do anything.
I, too, experienced God’s favor as he blessed my husband Todd and I with a baby after more than 10 years of trying. Our miracle, Isabella Faith Marie, was born July 2 and we couldn’t feel more blessed if we were the holy family ourselves.
But, in some small way, we’ve been given that chance as it’s a tradition when a baby is born within our church, Christ Community in Nisswa, the new family has the opportunity to portray the holy family at the Christmas Eve services.
Isabella will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in the manger. Todd and I will be up front, too, dressed in costume. And while our costumes will represent who we are as Mary and Joseph, I pray the hope we’ve placed in God, the faith we have in God and the gratitude we feel toward God will be expressed by the smiles on our faces and the awe in our eyes.
God has blessed us with a gift in our daughter and during this Christmas season, and always, I hope we can be an example for others that nothing is impossible with God.
Nothing at all.
DeLYNN HOWARD may be reached at delynn.howard@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5850.
