Our Journey Toward Christmas
“The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his Name” (Luke 1:49).
Advent 2021: Responding to God’s Call and Growing in Community
This Advent, our leadership and writing teams are reflecting on the Visitation—Mary’s visit to St. Elizabeth while they were pregnant with Jesus and St. John the Baptist. Click here to read more.
I often think about what our Mother Mary was like as a physical mother to Jesus. I imagine she had instances when she felt frustrated or worried (like when she lost him and found him in the temple). Her sinless soul never led her to doubt God’s plan for her life; we know she trusted Him, but we also know she had human emotions, like sorrow and joy.
I have been recently reflecting on Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus. I am 11 weeks pregnant, and as I sit in misery from the headaches, the nausea, the lack of sleep, the mood swings, etc., I can’t fathom how Mary was able to walk to visit her cousin Elizabeth early in her pregnancy.
While I’m certain her journey throughout pregnancy had its ups and downs, it was also filled with hope. Hope that Elizabeth would welcome her with joy when she shared the good news. Hope that her child would be born and one day save the world. Hope that at the end of her life, she would be reunited in heaven with her son and the Father.
Bringing the Good News
Not everyone reading this article can relate to pregnancy, but much like Mary, we all have the ability to bring the joy and hope of the Advent season to those we work with. Aside from the holiday parties, the cheerful office decor, and work bonuses, we can approach each day as if we are Mary bringing the good news to Elizabeth.
Whether it is the co-worker who makes snide comments, the boss who overly critiques your work, or the know-it-all teammate who makes you roll your eyes, we show up because we know that our Advent ends at Christmas, when our Savior is born. We smile and respond with charity to the snide comments, we humbly accept criticism, and we affirm our teammate rather than roll our eyes.
I’m not saying we have to do it every day.
There will be days when we should stand up for our work, and we should be able to kindly “clap back” at the snide comments, but as we anticipate the birth of Christ, let’s see if we can show them how Christ would respond, instead. I say this to motivate myself as well. Not only am I pregnant and experiencing all the emotions, but I’m also very much trying to give it my all for my clients and my family. I feel like there are days that I dread opening my laptop, days I am just getting by so I can take a nap, and days when I am wishing away the evening so the kids can go to bed and I can tuck myself in, too.
Hope for Our Destination
Life should be so much more, It should be Mary filled with hope on one of her many journeys: visiting Elizabeth, riding a donkey to Bethlehem, following her son to Calvary. Each journey promised an ultimate destination that would be well worth whatever fears or worries she was experiencing (or even the pain of Calvary, which finally led to the resurrection).
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that the Advent season can be a burden for a lot of people. Whether you are just getting by during the first Advent season without a loved one, dealing with a bad breakup or divorce, struggling to provide presents for your loved ones, or unable to work, know that I will spend my journey through this Advent offering up my own small struggles and lifting you up in prayer. I pray that our Mother Mary will accompany you through your journey and lead you to find your own personal Visitation.
Colleen Godinez is a freelance copywriter living in Kansas City. She graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in psychology and a minor in journalism and mass communication. In her spare time, she loves laughing with friends and family and finding new wines to sip on (sparkling rose on warmer days). She has learned to appreciate the little things in life and soaks up every moment she can with her two kids and husband. You can follow her on Facebook or Instagram.