I was really not prepared for children.
And still, to this day, when one of them says, “Mom?” I tend to look around and over my shoulder. “Me?”
Linking in with Heading Home today for Five Minute Friday. Today’s word:
It is a tough word. I have lists and organizers and calendars and lots of glorious plans, all the time, for everything. But even so, more often than not, I don’t really feel prepared.
About three weeks ago my pastor asked me if I would prepare a monologue and perform it for the church. This is just crazy talk, I thought.
Then, he said, my monologue would be scheduled for the Christmas Eve Service – the “big kahuna” of services, you know. The one with all the candles and Silent Night and usually me weeping with the beauty of it. If I get mixed in with that, won’t it kind of be like singing all those beautiful carols accompanied by a kazoo?
No, wait there’s more. THEN he said, “I want you to play Mary.”
Ok. Sure.
Of course I said yes, because he’s my pastor. He’s a man of God and all that.
Perhaps later when I was trying on Mary costumes (drab… poor Mary) I started to think, “Really. ME? Perhaps there might be a better candidate out there?”
I am so not prepared.
But here’s the deal. I wonder all the time now, “How did she feel? How did she DO this? How did she?”
And then I realize. None of us is prepared.
God’s glory and love is so huge and astonishing, it should lay us out on our faces every day.
And also note: whenever my hubs and I get in a “discussion” now, I just look beatific and say, “Hey. Don’t mess with Jesus’s mom.”
Dana Bowman 
I really enjoyed your style of writing. Found you through Five Minute Friday and I’m planning on sticking around. As someone who had her first baby at 32 I can’t fathom being 14 and God telling me that I would be the mother of Son of God.
I KNOW. I feel so overwhelmed for her! At least I can channel my own overwhelmedness to help me “feel the part” i guess… 😉
Nice way to end an argument! LOL! #FortheWIN Praying for you as you prepare (ya see what I did there?) …I am sure it will be wonderful and wonder-filled! Merry Christmas!
I see what you did there!! 🙂 Thank you and prayers much appreciated.
Since my pastor’s first advent sermon (he’s really hitting the waiting hard this year), I cannot stop thinking of Mary. “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant has been perpetually stuck in my head. I never ever ever ever feel prepared for anything as a mom, but at least my husband and I were able to wait until we wanted to have children and make that choice, and at least I’m not the world’s only pregnant virgin. I can’t imagine how lonely that must’ve felt, how hard it must’ve been on both Joseph and Mary.
I have been listening to “Breath of Heaven” a lot. It is perfect. 🙂
“None of us is prepared.” Only by the grace of God go I! Seriously. I don’t even know how he landed me where I am. Without him, I would likely be dead. He prepares us for his work. Thanks for this! I love your humor and your truth woven together. Cheering you as you cheer about our Lord.
P.S. We need to see some Mary pics!
Thank you so much – I often feel overwhelmed with this… I love your encouragement!