Christmas Devo | December 1

READ
Luke 1:26-27 

CONSIDER 
There is a tradition in weddings that I just love. It’s typically included with vows when the bride and groom exchange rings, but I prefer to do this early in the ceremony. The father of the bride walks his daughter down the aisle, and the pastor says the following:  

[Groom], do you take [Bride] to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?  

The bride answers the same questions. THEN, the pastor asks who gives the woman to be married to the man. The father of the bride says he does (or he and her mother) and literally hands her to the groom.  

I like to ask these questions here because they have powerful symbolism. The father is saying, “It has been my responsibility to care for her since she was born. Now, I am entrusting her to you, and you are taking that responsibility from this moment forward. Your vows to her show me you’re ready for it. Her vows to you show me she’s ready, too.”  

In Mary's day and culture, women did not fall in love, receive a romantic proposal, and plan an extravagant ceremony. Fathers would find a man suitable for the taking over the responsibility of caring for their daughters and pledge their daughters to those men.  

Imagine being Mary. You’re facing this major life transition, moving from childhood to adulthood (which happened around her age) while simultaneously leaving your parents’ home and learning how to be a wife. It’s a lot to process. What might you be feeling? Thinking? What would you be excited about? What would you be struggling with?  

REFLECT 
Think about a major life transition you’ve been through. How did you navigate all the unknowns? What was your relationship with God like at the time? If you were to go through that again knowing what you know about God in this season of your life, what might be different?  

PRAY
Thank you, God, for the ways you have guided you through me big transitions in my life. Please go ahead of me and prepare me for any big changes I may encounter in the future.
Amen.