'Glory to God in the Highest!'

She got to hold God in her arms, and He was her Son. After nine months of patient expectation, of ups and downs, of Joseph finding out and getting ready to divorce her, of angels bearing messages to mere humans and Elizabeth's startled recognition of who she was and who she was bearing, of the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem while on the verge of giving birth, of so much - now, she got to hold God.

And He was her Son.

And already, the world was beating a path to her door. Already, they came to take Him away: first the shepherds, shocked, awed, speaking of angels and impossible music, of lights brighter than the sun, drowning out the stars. Then, later, the wise men from far away lands, bearing rich gifts, speaking with strange accents - Gentiles, come to pay homage to the King of the Jews!

Yes, she thought, King - and far more, as well.

Already, so soon! Simeon had spoken of a sword to pierce her heart, and called her Son a stumbling block, even as he rejoiced in seeing the coming of her Son.

He was her Son!

She was the mother of the Son of God, mother of the Messiah, mother of the one all of Israel had awaited for so many, many generations. She was the one, because He was the one, and already, already their lives were full of angels and holy people, of the poor and the outcasts turning to them, of Gentiles coming to seek the light to the nations, of great burdens and immense journeys.

More would come, she felt sure of that. Much more was to come, a whole lifetime for her little Son and her, and Joseph, that good man, that righteous man who was her husband - a whole lifetime, she felt sure of it.

Let the will of the Lord be done. Let them stumble over her Son, and pierce her heart, and do with her according to God's word, but for right now, right now...

He was in her arms, and He was her Son.

FDCC

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