As the Christmas season approaches and we begin to think about the beginning of Christ’s time on earth, my mind is drawn to the story of Mary and Elizabeth: two women who play a vital role in the beginning of our Savior’s story. These women were relatives. We don’t know much about how close they were or how their lives had intertwined throughout the years. What we do know is that they both had a strong relationship with God.

“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.” Luke 1:6-7

Elizabeth and her husband were both very old and she was unable to conceive a child. They were both righteous people and had followed God closely, yet she is late in life and hasn’t been able to have a child. Elizabeth felt disgraced. She felt as if she couldn’t do the one thing that she was called to do. But God’s timing is not our timing and He had a special assignment for Elizabeth. He didn’t need her to carry just any child. He needed to wait so that she could carry the one who would pave the way for the Messiah.

“Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. ‘How kind the Lord is!’ she exclaimed. ‘He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.’” Luke 1:24-25

Mary was engaged to Joseph. She was a young, poor, female. Her entire life was before her and about to begin with her marriage. But God’s timing is not our timing. Mary was to carry the Christ child. In all human terms she wasn’t ready, but she had found favor with God. The events were not unfolding in the order she needed. This was not how she planned.

“‘Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.’” Luke 1:30-31

The angel went on to tell Mary that her relative Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy even in her old age. Mary decided that she would go and visit Elizabeth. This is my favorite part of this story.

“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 exclamation to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.’” Luke 1:39-45

What I can’t seem to get off my mind is Elizabeth’s reaction to Mary. Here is a woman who thought she would NEVER conceive, who is having “her moment” and living in the dream she had always prayed. Yet, when it came time for her to hear about the news of Mary’s pregnancy, she chose humility and honored Mary in her moment. She didn’t get jealous and upset that Mary was invading her moment in the spotlight which would have been the typical response. How dare Mary bust up in here and be pregnant when Elizabeth had been praying for years and had finally gotten her miracle. But Elizabeth was different. Elizabeth encouraged. Elizabeth chose to honor Mary in her time, too. Elizabeth became the first person to recognize the Christ-child.

And I love to see what happens next. It is AFTER Elizabeth’s encouragement that Mary breaks into her widely-known song of praise! Elizabeth’s encouragement gave Mary the strength to praise during this uncertain time. Both of these women had a calling. Both of these women had a miracle. And there was no reason to be jealous or compare the calling of the other. We each have our own calling. We each have our moment. But we are the strongest for the Kingdom when we encourage each other rather than compare. Who in your life can you encourage this week to strengthen them and maybe give them the confidence they need to step into what God has called them to?