Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. — Proverbs 3:5
The part of the Christmas Story that describes Mary initially questioning the angel who tells her she will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, saying, "but how can this be, I am a virgin?" is one of the passages that makes me believe this incredible story. She must have had many, many questions, concerns, and fears. But the miracle is that after Mary received the surprise of her life, she made a confident turn toward belief in the message of the angel, trusting that God would be with her on this amazing journey. Her response to the angel Gabriel is in Luke 1:38: "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled."
About 2 years ago, I began to feel the tug of God's spirit saying, "You have more to do. Trust me. I will lead the way." With His guidance, we put together a plan that led to my retirement from a position I had held for twenty years as director of Collaborative for Children, an organization whose mission I was and am still passionate about. After my retirement this past June, I began to focus on what God has in store for me. It was a bit scary, but, boy, did God come through with opportunities galore. Not only am I a new grandmother to little Lucia, my daughter Kendra and her husband Salas' precious new baby, but I am as busy as I want to be professionally, using my skills and experience to continue to serve the community in new and different ways.
Thank you, God, for the amazing example of Mary. Her willingness to serve You and to trust in You, knowing there would be risks, pain, suffering, and sacrifice, helps us to put our challenges in perspective. Thank you for the gifts You have given us and Your vision to use them in ways unimagined.
Carol Shattuck is a lifelong member of SMBC. She has shared a big part of this journey with her husband of 35 years, David Shattuck, and their two children, Luke and daughter-in-law Bonnie Shattuck, and Kendra and son-in-law Andres Salas, grandchildren Pamela, Andrew, Jeffery, and the newest member of the family, Lucia Tollese Salas!
