Mary’s Song

Many thanks to Elise Daly Parker for today's post. Elise is a valued friend and gifted professional writer, and the author of Our Stories God's Glory.

And Mary said:

“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.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation…”

Luke 1:46-50

I am embarrassed to say I did not really know what the Magnificat, or Mary’s Song, found in the Gospel of Luke, was until a few years ago. I’m sure I’d heard it through the many years of attending church, but it was Amy Grant’s version below that really struck a chord. I remember listening to this song, back in the early 90s, when the song first came out.

I was tired from raising two young children and a teenager…and it was Christmastime. I was making little hand-painted boxes that were to be my gifts that year, back in the days when I actually did arts and crafts. It was late and the girls were asleep. I was overwhelmed by my self-imposed desire to make Christmas magical…and we were still living in the wake of a serious accident that had left my husband brain injured, changed, and without a job.

What I was so struck by was Mary’s “Yes.” Though she was uncertain, frightened, pregnant out of wedlock, she said yes to the Lord’s call on her life. I guess I related (though one might think that awfully audacious of me). I remember crying as I listened to the words of weariness, the contemplation of being chosen, and her utter dependence on her Father, her need for His very real presence as she walked down a path of uncertainty. Mary seems at once scared and awed that God would choose her to bear God’s only son.

And that’s how I was feeling too, frightened, yet honored. I was concerned that I was in over my head with babies, a teenage stepdaughter, and a brain-injured husband…and what was beginning to feel like a call to ministry. Could it be? You have chosen me, Lord? I think you’ve got the wrong girl. I don’t think I can do this…I think you’ve made a mistake. You tell us you never give us more than we can bear. Yet here I am.

Be with ME. Hold ME together. Pour over ME your holiness. Be forever near ME, Breath of Heaven.

The Good news, the awesome news is we are all chosen by God to do things we cannot do without Him. But we, like Mary, can do all things through Christ who gives us strength and never leaves us nor forsakes us. Amen!

Mary’s Song

Lyrics by Amy Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdLwZCprtkI

I have traveled

Many moonless night

Cold and Weary

With a babe inside

And I wonder

What I've done

Holy Father

You have come

Chosen me now

To carry your son

I am waiting

in a silent prayer

I am frightened

by the load I bear

In a world as cold as stone

Must I walk this path alone

Be with me now

Be with me now

[chorus:]

-----------------------------------

Breath of Heaven

Hold me together

Be forever near me

Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven

Lighten my darkness

Pour over me, your holiness

For your holy Breath of Heaven

-----------------------------------

Do you wonder

As you watch my face

If a wiser one, should of had my place

But I offer-all I am

For the mercy-of your plan

Help me be strong

Help me be

Help me

.