‘Then Mary responded, saying, “This is amazing! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has done for me. May everything you have told me come to pass…”’–Luke 1:38 (TPT)

One of the most beautiful elements of the Christmas story is Mary’s heart to trust God’s goodness. When the angel first came to Mary with this invitation she was ‘shocked’ and ‘bewildered’ (See Luke 1:29 TPT). Of course this was shocking and bewildering news, Mary was simply living and walking out her every ordinary life when this news rocked her world.

This invitation scared her young heart, yet the angel reassured her saying, “Yield not to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift” (Luke 1:30 TPT).

When God directs us, we need not yield to your fear, we are to yield to and trust God’s greater plans, just as Mary did.

I wonder what kind of mother and father Mary had? Somewhere along the way people in her world sowed seeds of childlike faith and trust into Mary’s heart. She was able to yield to God’s plans rather than her own. I believe this was because she had seen and experienced those in her world modeling the same.

Mary was an example of faith sown well. Those in our world, especially our children see how we choose to position our hearts and lives. Do we fall to our knees and place our trust in Him, even through the direst of circumstances? Or do we yield to our fear and freak out?

As our actions match our words, our children will see the goodness, love and faithfulness of God. When the time comes for them to yield to and trust in God they will know how.