Today is the beautiful Solemnity of the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and announcing that she would give birth to Jesus. Mary giving her Fiat, her yes, that changed all of humanity. A yes, without understanding, without knowing what the future held or how it would all come into being.
As parents we are each asked to give our own fiat with every child we welcome into the world, every sleepless night, meal made, laundry folded, cold dinner eaten, paycheck worked for, etc. Small ways we say yes to what God is asking of us. Most days we don’t even notice or think twice about what we are doing, because lack of sleep and endless laundry has simply become the norm.
Small ways we shape and mold humanity, without understanding it all, without knowing what the future holds or how it will all come into being. We worry, we pray, we grow anxious, we hope, we distress, we trust. We wonder if we are doing enough, wonder if we are doing too much, wonder if we missed opportunities and wonder if we have what it takes.
Again and again. Every hour and every moment. Day in and day out we give our fiat. Our yes to this vocation God has called us to. Falling to our knees in awe and wonder. Falling to our knees in thanksgiving. Falling to our knees in trial and heartache. Always pondering all of these things in our hearts.
And when you wonder and doubt if you are enough, God gives your heart a glimpse to reassure you that ultimately he is in charge and these souls are just on loan to you.
My sixth grade son and some of his friends decided to take it upon themselves to throw an Annunciation party at their lunch table today. They each volunteered to bring something. Naturally foods pre-teen boys would love, chips, soda, more chips and cookies. Complete with someone bringing a tablecloth and my son in charge of the battery candles. I instantly exclaimed, “That is so beautiful!” To which any 12 year old boy would reply, it’s not beautiful. But to this mama’s heart it most certainly is!
Happy Solemnity!
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