The point of this exercise was to capture something that serves as your key to the season. It did not have to be related to Christmas--just an item or activity that gives you grounded when priorities are lost and everything else seems to take over.
For me my "go to" place is the book of Luke. Luke is where Mary goes to Elisabeth to tell her about the impending delivery of the Son of God. Luke is where Mary shares her secret with her mentor and friend. Luke is where Mary rejoices in the blessings of being the chosen mother of Christ despite the obvious challenges.
I can relate to several characters in the Bible--Mary, Jonah, and even sometimes Job. The place that I almost always go in times of personal struggle is Luke. While gifted the great miracle of carrying God's child, Mary also faced great personal challenges and public ridicule for being pregnant and unwed during that time. The penalty for an unwed mother was death by stoning. Yet, despite all this, Mary accepted God's unsolicited blessing and never questioned His purpose.
I want to be a "yes girl" like Mary. In today's society, a "yes girl" refers to a woman with loose sexual morals. I prefer to think of a "yes girl" as someone who follows God's leads, obeys His commands, and never questions His purpose--even in the toughest of times. I want to be that. I know and believe that every little aspect of our lives is part of His grand purpose for each of us but it is so unbelievably easy to question the motive when everything does not go our way. I know that the struggles, valleys, and mountains all play a part. I want to learn not to question the tough times. I want to praise God for the teaching moments and valleys, not just the triumphs and mountains.
The Book of Luke, even more than most other scripture, is my key to staying grounded. If Mary could find praise and blessings in being an unwed and pregnant teenager with a baby that would grow up to be ridiculed and later put to death, then certainly I can accept and praise Him for the extra long cuddles during tough nights, the faithful insight of children with questionable futures, the knowledge brought to me by the extra requirements of raising chronically ill children, and the lessons and love that only He can provide in response to wrong decisions long ago.
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