The Three Pondering Statements
If God above had anything he wanted to say to a woman who going to become a mother, what would that be?
These words, these three statements:
- You are Highly Favoured.
- The Lord is with you.
- Do not be afraid
Mary, the mother of Jesus, heard these words, delivered by the angel Gabriel, sent from God. From posterity and the hand of the gospel writer Dr. Luke, we have a glimpse into what was said. These are what I call The Three Pondering Statements. They were not only what Mary needed to hear, but perhaps what you need to hear, what every pregnant mother needs to hear.
Let’s look at them a little more deeply:
- You are highly favoured. Having another human growing inside of your body is amazing and can be overwhelming at times. To know you are favoured with a child is a truth that you can take with you forever. This baby was meant for you, and you for this baby. Revel in that.
- The Lord is with you. Just marinate in that thought…. God is with you. If he is with you, you will always have his company to rely on. He has you in the palm of his hand.
- Do not be afraid. Fear always is lurking in a mother’s mind about her baby. God knew this, and still does. It’s a normal human reaction, to care and to protect. It’s also something we need less of, for our own health and our children’s. Every time an angel appeared to a person in the Bible, this statement was part of the speech. Try to keep your eyes on the prize, your baby, and breathe in the truth that you can let go of fear and worry. Trust: yourself, your baby, and God who loves you both.
Meditation:
Here is this passage in The Passion Translation:
Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Grace to you, young woman, for the Lord is with you and so you are anointed with great favor… Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. Luke 1:28, 30.
Over my many years as a doula, I have shared these statements countless times in prenatal visits. Take them for yourself today. I have never had a mother who didn’t find some solace in them – they work because they are true, not only for Mary, but for you!
Doula Tip:
The 3 Pondering statements are great to write out and meditate on for your whole pregnancy. Take a few minutes each day and ruminate on them. Put them on cue cards on your mirror or fridge. By thinking on these thoughts, you can dispel so many of the negative ones that try to creep in, either from your own mind or from other people’s words.