I chose the featured image of the manger and the crown of thorns because they embrace joy, sorrow, and hope. The baby, Jesus, is not there. The Christ who wore the crown of thorns is not there. He was born. He lived. He died in our place. He arose. He ascended. And now we wait for his second advent.
Recently, I was in the home of Agnes Fisher, an artist, poet, and teacher who leads the creative writing group I participate in. I am the newest group member; others have been with her for years. Before I left, she took me through her home so that I could see her paintings. In the process, I learned of poems partnered with some of her paintings compiled and published a dozen years ago under the title Daughters of Zion, Voices of the Women in the Bible.
I sat with a cup of coffee this morning and read through some of this lovely book. Later, I asked and received permission from Agnes to share one of her paintings and a poem that blessed me in my quiet time.
We know the story. Mary didn’t. She lived through it moment by moment and experienced fear, wonder, joy, love, grief, and hope. She held in her heart the things she did not understand.
As I immersed myself in the words and picture below, my heart was flooded with emotion and overwhelming gratitude that I could celebrate the birth of the one who also became my Savior. And I, too, must hold what is beyond my understanding in my heart.
Mary Fear brought me to my knees. Joy lifted me up. Grief swallowed me whole Resurrection saved me. At his birth At his cross At his tomb I was stretched to the limits of motherhood. My son is my saviour and I am his child Who can get it?
If Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who became flesh, a baby born in Bethlehem to a virgin, who lived and died that we might be reconciled to a Holy God, has not become your Savior, may you find Him. And to those who belong to Him, may we know and love Him more intimately, live for Him more fully, and become more like Him as we worship and wait for His return.
In the new year, I hope to share other poems from this book by Agnes. If you are interested in it yourself, you can find it on Amazon under the author’s name, A. C. Fisher, or you can get it through WestBow Press.