“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38
One of my favorite books is, Tuesdays with Morrie. The book, published in 1997, chronicles the final days of Morrie Schwartz as he provides some final mentoring advice to Mitch Albom. Albom, a writer for the Detroit Free Press and a contributor to a number of shows on ESPN, was a student of Schwartz while in college.
Albom became aware of Schwartz’s grave condition and decided to get in touch with his former mentor. He set up a time every Tuesday to drive to his friend’s house and simply spend time with him. As the story unfolds, we find that Albom is the one truly blessed in the weekly visits as Schwartz shares nuggets of knowledge with his former pupil.
One trait about Schwartz struck me as extremely interesting — how at peace with life he was. Maybe he had accepted his fate as a dying man…maybe he was a visionary…or maybe he understood the secret of life.
During one of his visits, he tells Albom something so simple, yet so compelling; I think it is worth repeating. Schwartz tells Albom, “Accept who you are, and revel in it.”
Accept who you are, and revel in it. Sounds like a worthy goal to me. Wouldn’t you like to be at such peace you could feel this way?
Mary was a person at peace. I don’t know how but she was. Here was a virgin woman engaged to Joseph. Her life is changed forever, by a visit from Gabriel — an angel of God. God sends Gabriel to visit Mary and inform her that she has been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. No pressure there, right?
Her response to the conversation with Gabriel is fascinating to me. She asked for a few details (I mean who wouldn’t??) but, after hearing Gabriel out, she replies,
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38
That, my friends, is a person at peace. A person that knew her role. A person that has accepted who she is and revels in it. Here Mary was, a nobody, who went on to become the most important woman the world has ever known.
Who are you today? Do you know your place in this world? Are you reveling in who you are? God has made you the wonderfully unique, exceptionally talented person that you are. You are His kid! Get excited and celebrate that!
Father God, thank you for being my dad. Thank you for making me the individual I am. Sometimes I forget, Lord, how much I matter to you. I forget how much you love me and I let life’s tasks, issues, and problems get in the way of what you want me to accomplish. Today, please help me to accept who I am and to revel in it. Help me to embrace the peace that I can have in you as I live this life. Amen.
Ed Rivers
Recreation Director
Johns Creek Baptist Church
5 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for an inspiring devotion for today. Thanks for your great ministry. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season. J.Ray
Wow, Ed. That is one of my favorite books as well. I read it while working at Emory Univ. and found my personal “Maury” in an 89 year old man named Jake, who had been Dean of Faculty and was still going to work every day and teaching the “newlywed” SS Class at Glenn Memorial UMC on campus (well, they were the newlywed class in 1949 when he started teaching). Over a cup of coffee when we would visit , he would ask questions about how my family was , how my job was etc, and then he would smile and say something to the effect of “Isn’t it great that God chose you to be the mother of your sons.” or “How wonderful that God gave you the gifts you need to do this job.” or simply “I am so thankful God introduced me to you.” No matter what stress or frustration or joy I was going through with job, kids, etc., he would bring it back to “Accept who you are and revel in it.” Thank you , Ed, for reminding me of this simple but difficult task. And thank you , God, for bringing Maurys and Jakes and Eds into our lives to be reminders that you made us and we have Your peace to revel in who we are!!!
Ed, thanks so much for your blogs on Hope and Peace. It has been a rather quiet day and your words not only opened my physical eyes but your writings have opened the eyes of my heart. I thank God every day for all his blessings and I even have come to understand those times in my life of the blessings when prayers were not answered (perhaps in His time) or He chose to say no. I pray God continues to bless you with the words of inspiration that fill our hearts.
Ed, thanks so much for sharing your excellent thoughts on “Finding Personal Peace” and the humbling reminder of God’s creation. The book reference is awesome! Wishing you and your family blessed Christmas and New Year filled with His Peace, Hope and Joy. Dave
Wow Eddie – you are very inspiring and a wonderful example of the definition of a true believer. Once again I must tell you how very proud I am of you and the path in life that you have chosen. Please always remember us in your prayers as we continue on our journey of grief. We have come along way but it is not always easy to keep moving forward especially at the holidays. I hope to see you and your family in the very near future.
Love,
Susan