Be an Elizabeth

Be an Elizabeth 

“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed’. . . Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.”  Luke 1:39-42, 56

In the movie ‘Elf ', a human child named Buddy is raised by elves. Eventually, Buddy is confronted with the fact that he is, in fact, not an elf, but a human. To help him deal with this unexpected and disturbing reality, he sets off to find his human family, the only ones he believes can help him with this dilemma.

In the scripture passage above, we find that Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. Mary has had the most unexpected and disturbing reality become hers; she is going to bear the Son of God. She immediately goes to the one person she feels can help her make sense of her situation  The person who can encourage, strengthen, and instruct her.

“The story of the visitation (Mary visiting Elizabeth) teaches me the meaning of friendship and community. How can I ever let God’s grace fully work in my life unless I live in a community of people who can affirm it, deepen it, and strengthen it.”  (Henry J.M. Nouwen, “The Road to Daybreak”)

All of us, in times of unexpected, and often disturbing circumstances need an ‘Elizabeth’ to be a refuge of wisdom, comfort, and joy. We also should be available to be an Elizabeth to others; to others who need our refuge, our wisdom, who need someone to cry with and someone to laugh with.

Dear Father, Thank you for the ‘Elizabeth’s’ in my life. Show me who needs me to be an ‘Elizabeth' for them today. Thank you for my community of faith that affirms, deepens, and strengthens Your work of grace in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Written by Reenie Peppers