All The W's

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

Passionate about writing, I have dabbled in more than one genre of written literature. One of the basic lessons taught to those who choose reporting - is that one must learn to cover all the W's. That would be the Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Every single article ever written covers some of, if not all of those W's. Without them, there really wouldn't be much of an article.

When current events takes on a different ebb and flow and the topic of interest manages to wind it's way into our personal lives, it's all those pesky W's about which we tend to worry the most. It's difficult to write objectively when the W's have camped in our own living rooms. It also seems to be more difficult to answer all the W's in a concise manner when we aren't sure how the article will wrap-up. We don't always get a happy ending - and sometimes, we don't' get an ending at all until years after the story reared it's confusing head. 

When the news broke [just yesterday, in fact] that there is a very good chance we might be moving again in just four months, all the W's hit me full force, leaving me breathless and more than a little deflated. Since old habits die hard, the first thing I did was send myself into a panic. But then I was reminded [by my awesome sister] that God is STILL in control of my life, and all these W's will be taken care of by Him, just as they always have been. And when my amazing dearest friend and neighbor called later, SHE reminded me that God is not surprised at all that these particular W's have paid a visit. In fact, He might have even arranged for them, Himself.

Now there's a thought!

When Mary was paid a visit by an angle of God to let her know that she was going to have a baby named Jesus even though she'd never known a man,  she had more than one of those W's hit HER full force! - along with several other letters of the alphabet. But Mary didn't stutter out a slew of questions, she didn't argue that her betrothed, Joseph, might not believe her or that the village in which she lived might have her stoned - she simply replied; "I am your servant, may your word to me be fulfilled."

In other words, Mary completely and totally surrendered! Obedient and humble, Mary accepted the angel's message. We know how her interaction with Joseph and her village must have gone after that because we know that she and Joseph were married and she delivered God's son with her hubby at her side. But Mary didn't know any of that when she looked up at the angel and completely obeyed! She didn't know that Joseph would remain with her or that her village wouldn't want her tossed out or maybe even put to death. She had no idea how her own article would wrap-up. She simply trusted God.

Packing a moving truck with boxes that haven't even been unpacked since the last time we moved can very truly NOT compare with an angel telling Mary that she was going to be an unwed mother. And yet, we see her completely step up and own her situation in humility and grace - without so much as a peep of an argument.

If  God can handle THOSE W's ..... what do you be He'll be able to handle mine?