Tuesday 22 December
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
To be seen through the eyes of God, even in our lowliness, is a true blessing. As women we know we can be our own worst enemies. We do not need others to put us down because no one does that better that we do. Unfortunately, we often see ourselves as if we were looking at a fun house mirror full of distortion. We see every perceived imperfection and we focus on those. Can you imagine how sad God must be with how we look upon his creation this way?
I was looking through my closet one day, pulling out clothes and complaining that nothing looked good on me. I called myself fat and ugly and bemoaned the fact that I could not make any of those clothes look good. What I thought I was saying in my head I was obviously saying out loud, and my husband heard me. Before I knew what was happening my husband grabbed me by the shoulders, turned me around, and said “I don’t care how you are feeling. I won’t allow anyone to speak about the woman I love that way! You are hurting her, and you are hurting me as well. Stop it now!” I was hurting him by speaking badly about me. Can I tell you that I have never felt more loved by him than I did in that exact minute?
God looks upon us in our lowliness and he calls us blessed. When we do not love ourselves (who have been created in his image and likeness) we hurt him. I can imagine God doing what my husband did, holding us and telling us to “Stop it now!” I love you!
Lisa Miklos
Meditation
God is captivated by you, and that includes the imperfections that you may see in the mirror.