Mary, Did You Know? has long been one of my favorite contemporary Christmas songs, but for some reason, this year more than ever. A couple weeks before Christmas, I introduced this song to our youngest granddaughter, Sarah, and it became one of her favorites as well.

I did a search on Google to find all the different versions of Mary, Did You Know to play for Sarah, and eventually we found Clay Aiken’s rendition with a video on YouTube. It became our favorite version, but what I soon became aware of was how much the boy playing the role of Jesus looked like the woman who played Mary. One of my Facebook friends was bothered by the fact that Jesus and His mother didn’t look Jewish, but I was so fascinated by this new realization that Jesus may have looked like Mary that I didn’t even notice. 

It had never surprised me that Jesus had so resembled His heavenly Father that He’d told His disciples, Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9). But as I watched the video over and over, I realized that in all my seventy-two years, I had never considered that Jesus might have looked like His mother!

Somehow this new discovery has given me a deeper conception of Jesus’ humanity, that although He was the Son of God, while He lived on the earth He may very well have resembled the woman who gave Him birth. I love that thought! I also love the fact that just as we may be born resembling our earthly parents, through Jesus, we may be born again to resemble our heavenly Father.

As we experience this Christmas season, I am amazed once again that the Creator of the Universe would humble Himself to come to earth as a baby, taking on the form of a human being so that we don’t have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations (Hebrews 4:15). Oh How He Loves You and Me!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that you sent Jesus to earth to live in human form. Thank you that the Son of God became the Son of Man in order that the sons of men might become sons of God (Unknown author quoted by David Jeremiah). We are so very grateful! Amen.

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When your kiss your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God?

The blind will see, The deaf will hear, The dead will live again.
The lame will leap, The dumb will speak, The praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great I am.

(Songwriters: Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene, William Barclay, Wayne Buchanan, Courick Clarke, Savory Lamont.)

Health Update:

As this year draws to a close, I am so aware that aside from my Heavenly Father, my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my comforter, the Holy Spirit, no one deserves more credit for helping me to survive one of the most challenging years of my life than the man sitting beside me in this picture. I am so grateful for his unfailing love and patience to do, without complaint, things he would never have expected to do when he said “I do!”

Recently, a friend who discovered she had breast cancer said of her husband, “He didn’t sign up for this.”

“Oh yes he did!” I responded. “In sickness and in health…”

I’m so thankful that Donn has done all that was required to keep the vow that he made on May 2, 1970, to love me “in sickness and in health.”

I am doing well and overwhelmingly thankful my health allowed us to have Angi’s family here from 12/20 to 12/23 and to host our family Christmas celebration on December 22 with Donn and our daughters’ help. All of our grandchildren except Sarah brought a boyfriend or girlfriend and our total number climbed to 18. The day after Christmas we received word that Joy’s boyfriend, Yanik, proposed to her on Christmas Day and she said yes! We’re delighted to be gaining another grandson.

The day after Christmas, I had my pre-op appointment for my surgeries in January.  As far as I know, I passed. I was delighted my Targeted Treatment schedule didn’t require me to have a treatment during the Christmas season. My next one will be on Tuesday, January 2.

Thank you so much for all your prayers this past year. I can’t count the number of people who’ve told me they pray for me every day, and when I count my blessings, you all are high on the list!  We appreciate you more than we can say.

Christmas morning, 12/25/23