Receptive-Humility.jpg
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered [the angel]. "May your word to me be fulfilled. Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:38

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant... He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
Luke 1:51-52

In this image I have depicted Mary laying down, worn from the day, in a deep state of rest while carrying the Christ Child. Her response to God’s miraculous intervention in her life was a resounding “yes” and since those encounters while going about her day-to-day routine, she continually pondered this glorious promise in her heart. In the midst of giving birth to the miraculous, God did not take the hardship or pain away, but because of her choice to humble herself, the Lord was able to sustain her in it. There will always be a temptation to run from God when encountering pain. Mary counteracted this self-centered trap by considering herself less and identifying herself instead as the Lord's servant. One cannot be a true servant of someone else without becoming less important than the other. Her only desire was to glorify God and see His will done in her life. Because of her consistent attitude of humility, Mary was able to keep her focus on God and through all of the suffering conceive the greatest of miracles. Jesus, the Son of God, placed by the Holy Spirit, was literally born through her human body. May we learn to continually humble ourselves before God and others and see His miraculous fruit born in our lives today. Merry Christmas to you from True Image Illustration!