Don't you know who I am?

When I was a child, I grew up with a very confused idea of Jesus and the church. I had some good examples of good followers of Christ. I heard Jesus loved me and learned the Lord's Prayer at a very young age. But, I did not grow up in the church. I was taught through expirence that Jesus may love you but only certain kinds of people are really welcome to church. If you were divorced or the children of divorced parents you were welcome sometimes, but don't get comfortable. When I got older and became a teenage mother, my mom decided we needed to find a church. We tried several and did find one that was very welcoming. My mom finally found a church home to return to her faith and was accepted. She had found a ministry of lots of adults that were divorced but loved Jesus. They were very welcoming to me too. Loving and caring even though it was obvious what my sin was. However, I thought once again, there are groups still not totally welcome. There wasn't really a good fit for me. College kids didn't have kids, so no childcare for activities or bible study. The singles group was full of people my moms age that had been divorced or never married. Very few had young kids mostly their kids were grown. Yet, I made do. I accepted the love they offered because I really needed it. We may have been lost for awhile but God led us anyway. I'm thankful to be in a church family that welcomes and loves me. 

I was thinking about Mary this morning. What a dilemma she was in!  She believed and loved God very much. She took on a task she new would make her a social outcast. She followed Joseph to Bethlehem not knowing anyone. They didn't even stay with family. When a woman is that close to having her baby, she is tired, sore, and does whatever she can to be comfortable till the time comes to deliver. Yet she rode in on a donkey and since every house was apparently full there was no where to go. I can't say I would have been as quiet and humble as she was. Surely, I would have shook my fist and said, " don't you know who I am?" I'm about to deliver God in the flesh and you want to put me up in a barn?! Joseph would have been kicked outside for putting me up in a place like that....

Yet, she didn't. God chose someone who could carry out his will without putting the focus on herself. She and Joseph stayed in the stable. She delivered Jesus. No family members were pacing outside the door. Facebook wasn't waiting for her status. No pictures were taken of the greatest moment in time. She got to hold him, stare at him, and kiss the face of God. Little did she know, the world would celebrate this forever. But, it's Jesus's day. No #creditmary. But, God does. He gave her a task and she obeyed. 

Not everyone's cross to bear is the same. Some are uglier than others yet the same blood covers it all. Some people may only come to church on Christmas and Easter. Maybe that's the only time they feel they fit in. It challenges me to let them know they belong and are welcome to join us everyday. Jesus came for everyone. Thank you, Mary for bringing him to us. Thank you God for choosing her. Thank you Jesus for living and dying for us. I pray the Holy Spirit will move us to welcome everyone and tell that good news.