Okay Simeon, let me tell you the whole story — a story I wouldn’t have believed if it hadn’t happened to me. When I lived in Nazareth and was engaged to Joseph, my life was very busy. My thoughts were on the wedding preparations, and as you can imagine, I had a lot to do! One day as I was sweeping my house, an angel suddenly appeared to me — and frightened me, to tell the truth! His words were curious: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. … Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”

He went on to tell me that I would conceive and give birth to a son, whom I would name Jesus. “How can this be,” I asked him in bewilderment, “since I am a virgin?” He told me that I would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Then he told me that my cousin, a woman of old age, was already pregnant! I decided to see for myself.

I hurried to her town in the hill country of Judea. When I went into her house and called her name, Elizabeth grabbed her stomach and said “Oh!” Then she looked at me, filled with the Holy Spirit, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

I thought about what she said and I decided to stay for a few months before returning home. I helped with baby John’s birth, rocked him to sleep and changed his diapers. “What will my baby be like?” I thought. “What will Joseph think?” Surely this would be a problem. Joseph was a good man. I thought of the ridicule of the townspeople when they found out I was pregnant. I knew I had to tell him right away.

I found out later that after I talked with Joseph, he was planning to break our engagement quietly. I wouldn’t have blamed him. After all, he was a righteous man who did not deserve the mockery of those who did not understand. But another miracle happened! An angel appeared to him also and told him not to be afraid to marry me, that my baby is conceived of the Holy Spirit, and that my son will “save his people from their sins.” Can you imagine? My baby is a savior for the world?

Joseph then took me as his wife, and we made plans to travel to Bethlehem for the census that Caesar Augustus required. The travel was wearisome and I was heavy with my pregnancy. It was almost time for my baby to be born, but we had to register in Bethlehem, so we pressed on. I was exhausted when we arrived — hot and dusty — and just wanted a drink of water and a bed. But everywhere we tried was full because of the census. Door after door was closed in our faces — I couldn’t believe it. As time went by, I felt something like my cousin described before John’s birth. I was terribly uncomfortable and my lower back was hurting badly. Where were we going to sleep?

I told Joseph that I could go on no longer. It was time. At that point he was willing to take just about any accommodation. His frustration was evident in his stride and every drop of sweat he brushed from his brow. Finally, an innkeeper pointed us to his stable to use for the night. I wasn’t pleased that this is where my baby was going to be born, but I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it, either! Shortly after we got settled in, and with Joseph’s help, I delivered my miracle baby.

He was beautiful. I know all mothers say that! But he was. Such a tiny face, button nose and rosy lips and cheeks.  A savior for the world? He’s just a baby, I thought. But I trusted God. After all, I had every reason to trust that what He said would come to pass. I had the fruition of his promise in my arms at that very moment.

Within hours, some shepherds came to see the baby — and they already knew about him! Another angel told them of his birth and that he is the Messiah. After they found him and held him, the shepherds left rejoicing and told everyone about my baby and the promises the angel foretold. I just thought about it in my heart. What did it all mean?

We named him Jesus, as the angel instructed, on the eighth day. Now, Joseph and I bring Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord. You picked up Jesus in your arms and praised God for allowing you to see the Messiah before you die. Your words are still ringing in my ears: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

I treasure all of these things in my heart. Although I’m not sure what it all means, I know I’ve been blessed with a precious and extraordinary gift from God through my baby Jesus. He has an enormous calling on his life, from all that is said of him, from the angel to Elizabeth to you. While I think about all of these things, I trust God without question, because the baby he promised — a miracle child — is here in my arms and he will one day save us from our sins.

Can you believe it?