I have been thinking a lot this week about the contrast between Mary and Elizabeth. Mary was too young. Elizabeth was too old. Mary was not yet married. Elizabeth had been married for far too long. Mary was without any power. Mary was a virgin. Elizabeth was barren. Two women in many ways at opposite ends of the spectrum.
The comparison brought to mind the story of Goldilocks. You all know about Goldilocks. The young girl who breaks into the home of three bears, ransacks the place breaking furniture, eating all their food, and messing up their beds. The young girl who needs everything to be just perfect. It's too hot or too cold. It's too big or too small. Everything has to be just right.
I'm so glad God is not like Goldilocks. I'm so glad that God didn't look at Elizabeth and say, "She's too old." Or take one look at Mary and exclaim, "She's too young." And then keep looking until God found someone who was "just right." God doesn't work that way. God doesn't need us to be just the right size or shape or age. God doesn't need us to be in the right job or from the right family or have just the right set of gifts. God does not go through the world picking up this person and that saying, "This one is too big." "This one is too small." "This one is just right!" God uses all of us, vessels of all different shapes and sizes, those of us who are too big and too small, too old and too young. God uses all types of people to bring the light of Christ to the world. So don't worry... when God looks at you and considers using you for some purpose in this world... God looks at you and says "This one is just right."
2 comments:
Jo Ann,
Maybe God did look at Mary and say, "She's too young." and at Elizabeth and say, "She's too old." Maybe that's the point - that God can take things and people that seem ill suited for the task and empower them to do wonderful and unexpected things. Maybe that is part of the hope of the story. Of course, you are right, it is wonderful that God didn't pass them over for thinking any of the things we speculate about. It is wonderful that God doesn't pass us over. That is a joyful blessing!
It is all in how you look at it, isn't it? And yes, I agree, that God often uses the "foolish" of this world, those who are ill-suited, ungifted, misfits and empowers them to do amazing things.
Post a Comment