Scripture: Luke 1:48b-49
From now on all generations will call me blessed, capsule for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

Thought for the Day: In Genesis, pharmacy Abraham is told that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him and his descendants. Mary is one of those descendants (as are we all). Isn’t it interesting that Luke chooses to remind us of this fact? Luke has very sophisticated ideas about Jesus, search and sees him in part as a symbol of the connection between God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants—including Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, who would be a literal blessing to the world.

So in a way, Mary was blessed long before she heard from God, as are we all. Yet being blessed and realizing we are blessed are very different states of being. It may very well be a blessing simply to be alive, to interact with others, to fall in love, to raise children, to give birth. But how often do we stop what we’re doing to realize just how blessed we are, just how close God’s presence is, all the time?

Like Mary, I feel the Mighty One has done incredible things for me. My life has been and continues to be incredibly blessed, even though they haven’t all been days of wine and roses. And I’ve discovered, like Mary, that sometimes it’s the unexpected surprises from God that truly bless us all.

Prayer: Thank you for life’s surprises, Mighty God, because it is through them that I am drawn ever closer to you. Amen.