12/24/2021
Such beautiful words written by one of our speakers, Sonya, reflecting over this advent season and some of what she has endured this year:
“I’ve spent the evening meditating on this season of advent. Every year it is sacred in a new way. This year I’ve meditated upon Jesus tucked tenderly in Mary’s womb. I am struck by her joy at carrying the Christ-child though she would face ridicule. Something is so sacred about her willingness to be a vessel to nurture the Son of God. To wear the stretch marks and swollen ankles, the aching back, the heart burn, and immense pain of childbirth without modern medicine. We never hear about her suffering or how her community treated her, we only read of her joy and faithfulness.
Reflecting through this year, looking down at the scar stretched taunt across my belly, I wonder…have I accepted this painful journey with joy and faithfulness? I will never know the joy of carrying a child in my body, nor the stretch marks and swollen ankles. But, will I embrace the joy of carrying the gifts God has put in me to birth into this world? Will I faithfully carry the Son to light the darkness around me? Will I look into the face of all that has threatened to tear me in two, and continue to carry the love that grows inside me?
This scar has healed me. I was a sick woman. I carry so much hope out of the pain of this year. I do not know what may come but I can carry Jesus wherever I go, Mary’s reality a metaphor for my life.
I pray, in this season of celebrating the incarnation, you will celebrate, with joy, in the midst of difficulty and walk forward faithfully.”
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