Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38
At this point in our nativity story, Mary is likely beyond “miserable” and bordering on “contemplating divine divorce.” She has been trekking across rocky, unforgiving terrain for days. She is alternating between walking—which feels like her hips are being repositioned by a tectonic plate shift—and riding a donkey, which provides all the shock absorption of a jackhammer.
To add to her misery, Joseph has probably had to break the news that he forgot to check the TripAdvisor reviews for Bethlehem, or worse, he forgot to make reservations entirely. “But Mary,” he might have stammered.
When Mary uttered those famous words, “Let it be,” they had yet to become a chart-topping Beatles tune. In that moment, they weren’t even a peaceful melody; they were a brave, exhausted sigh. And let’s talk about the donkey. After days of travel, that animal was bound to be more than just “ripe.”
God has a funny way of testing us. He often expects us to open ourselves to possibilities beyond our wildest imaginings, but he’s also a master of the “Need to Know” basis. He gives us the “Greatest Story Ever Told” headline but leaves out the sub-headers.
One truly wonders if Mary would have been quite so accepting if the angel Gabriel had been a bit more transparent. “Greetings, favored one! You’re going to be the mother of the Savior! Also, just a heads-up: you’ll be delivering in a barn, sleeping on straw, and the first guests to see the kid will be some unwashed guys who spend all night with sheep.”
Next time we are faced with a challenge, it is wise to remember Mary. When we feel like our life has been rerouted into a ditch, or when our “blessed opportunity” feels suspiciously like a crowded stable, remember that God’s will often comes with a few bumps in the road—and occasionally, a very smelly donkey.
Let it be. Amen.