'Blessed are you among women'

A hand presses your shoulder. "Mary, Mary! Wake up----we have arrived at your cousins'."
Raising your head, you face your friend, Anne. She smiles at you. "We'll miss you!"
You hug her, then jump from her cart. She waves goodbye as her husband turns the cart and heads back to Nazareth. You thank God for friends like Anne.

Taking a deep breath, you walk toward Elizabeth and Zechariah's home. "Elizabeth? It's your cousin, Mary!" you call out.
Elizabeth appears in the door, her hand on her belly. You can see it is swelled with child. In a loud voice Elizabeth exclaims: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed she who has believed in what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
You run to embrace Elizabeth.

For three months you stay with Elizabeth and Zechariah, helping them prepare for their baby. You share with Elizabeth your fears and doubts.
"What will happen," you ask, "if no one believes what the angel told me?"
Elizabeth lays her hand on yours. "My child, not everyone will believe. But God has a plan for everything, and especially for your son. Let God have your worries, and He will make them disappear."
At the end of the three months, you are beginning to show signs of your pregnancy. Anne and her husband return to take you home.
 You give Elizabeth a last kiss goodbye. She grips your hand. "Have faith, dear Mary."

Her words stay with you the trip home, as Anne chats about all that you have missed from home. "....and more Roman soldiers have been passing through, each day. Your little sister has missed you something fierce. When I told her we were bringing you home today, she--" Anne's voice drops off, and she gently moves your shawl away from your torso. Your face burning, you cover it again. You meet Anne's gaze. Her face shows surprise and hurt. "Mary.....I don't  understand. How......"
You take her hand. "Anne, I don't expect you to understand. But please, hear me out."
With lots of pauses and tears, you explain to Anne (and her husband, of course) all the angel told you, and what happened to Elizabeth. When you finally finish, you wait for Anne's reaction.
She still looks confused, but the hurt has left her eyes. She hugs you, then says, "Well, I suppose God has it all figured out then. And don't you worry," She gently touches your belly. "Luke and I will be right here with you, even if the others don't believe you."

As you enter the town limits, you smile. It is good to be home. Besides, if Anne and Luke believed me, surely my parents will!

to be continued