It's a boy!

Down through history, the exclamation at birth, "It's A Boy!” was the preferable gender reality because it meant that there would be a strong back for a farming family, strong arms for blacksmithing or lumberjacking, etc.

Today, pregnant couples in our society can find out very early whether they'll have a girl or boy. The most prevalent reaction concerning gender is, "It doesn't matter, we just hope for a healthy baby!"

There was no ultrasound 2,000 years ago, but in Mary's not-yet-married world a God-sent messenger announced that she would give birth to a boy. All cultural stigmas aside, she must have trembled with excitement at that moment.

Then more unbelievable baby-information was spoken by that angelic presence: the baby would be God's Son and she should name him Jesus! Waves of fear and anxiety gripped her mind.

The Jehovah that Mary had grown up worshiping daily had favored her, singled her out from all other Jewish maidens. She was being asked to partner with God in this incredible incarnation which would bring God into human fellowship.

God's plan was not to send his son as a full-grown adult to teach, preach and heal from day one on earth. This son would come as an infant, nurtured in the womb, expected to live through years of exploration, learning, and growing, as all mankind does.

As the annunciation began to sink in, Mary's initial response was to humble herself and offer her servant spirit to her Lord.

Then, she just had to run and share what had happened to her. Her relative Elizabeth was the right one with whom to share: no judgment, no prying questions.....just shared joy! Mary burst into song, praising God for his goodness and mercy bestowed upon Israel and amazingly upon her.

Her thankfulness acknowledged the fulfillment of the long-ago prophetic promises......... Now, to share this news with Joseph and the rest of her family and the village.........a boy would mean a strong back in the carpenter shop, and………….