Think back to that first Christmas. Sometime after Mary was visited by an angel, she traveled to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. Elizabeth, an old woman, was finally expecting her first child, and when she heard Mary’s greeting, she reported that her unborn baby “leaped in her womb” (Luke 21: 41 NIV).
Elizabeth called out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”
At this, Mary broke out into song! Her song is recorded in Luke 1: 46-55 and is sometimes called the Magnificat, which means “my soul magnifies.”
Later, when Elizabeth’s baby was born (he grew up to be John the Baptist), the father was so overcome that he, too, broke out into song. You can read Zechariah’s song in Luke 1: 67-79.
Mary’s song lists the wonderful things God has done for her and for others. Zechariah’s song is about how God was fulfilling his prophecies about a Savior and what Zechariah’s son’s role would be in preparing the way for the Savior.
Now it’s your turn: Write a song or a poem of thanks, joy, humility, or wonder to God for something about Christmas or something about this particular Christmas that you truly appreciate. Write music to your song, if you wish. The poem can rhyme or be unrhymed.
Or read Mary’s words recorded in Luke and use her words to write a poem or song of praise.
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