Mary’s Song

While shoppers hurried into the mall to escape the winter winds, I was acutely aware of one man who instead was ambling to the entrance, methodically tapping his cane.

The man pulled an instrument from his tattered jacket. With recorder flute in hand, he played Silent Night, The First Noel, and Drummer Boy. I was enthralled by the sound resonating from his instrument.

Passersby stopped but soon returned to the scurry of activities that so easily defines the Christmas season.

I remained.

A mother dropped a coin in the man’s overturned hat. A teenager handed the flutist a water bottle. It was my chance to talk to him.

“Excuse me, sir, do you play secular songs too?”

“Naw.”

“Why not?” His answer did not disappoint.

“They don’t interest me.”

“Does anybody ever take your money? I mean, you wouldn’t know it seeing as…”

“I sees those that takes with me ears. But if all they wants is the coins, they can have ‘em.”

“Why do you play?”

“I play ‘cause I want ‘em folks to have a song in they’s heart like I’s got in mine.”

“Thank you, sir. I’d ask you to play another song, but I don’t have cash…”

“Set yerself down. I’s playin’ fer ya.”

With that instruction, I sat. As the flutist played Mary Did You Know, I felt a warmth erase the cold wind whipping across the sidewalk. I was caught up in the flutist world, his audience being the One who died and rose again.

I learned something that day

Although the gentleman was blind and poor, his spirit was free. The song of the Lord residing within this flutist gave him a joy no one could take.

Let’s talk about Mary. Why did God choose her to birth the Savior? Like the flutist, she trusted God to direct her life. Mary believed Gabriel’s report and permitted the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit who placed the Son into her virgin womb. She then made haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth who also was with child.

Because of Mary’s reliance upon God, the Bible records her as being the most highly favored woman. Her cousin Elisabeth said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28b NKJV)!

There is one more characteristic about Mary that made her God’s choice. She, as the flutist, had a song in her heart no one could take away. Her song, The Magnificat, also known as The Canticle of Mary, is a declaration of her beliefs about God.

What did Mary sing? She sang about her surprise when she learned she was chosen to give birth to the Savior. She had glimpsed the future impact of Christ’s birth—that it would bless not only her generation but ours as well. And, she sang about God’s sovereignty.

Mary’s simple faith reminds me of the flutist’s. He had no sight—he used the taps from his cane to ‘see.’ His coat was threadbare—he did not focus on the bitter cold. People stole his offerings—Christ, rather than silver, was his motivation. Rather than focusing on outward circumstances, the flutist focused on expressing the song residing within his spirit. Sharing his talents with others brought him satisfaction.

Perhaps this humble flutist, like Mary, is chosen, favored, and blessed. And may I suggest to you that when we focus on King Jesus rather than on our circumstances, God’s favor descends upon us as well?

Mary kept a song in her heart

Would Mary have a difficult journey? Sure she would, and she knew this, but she kept a song in her heart when challenges came. As gossipers talked about her premarital pregnancy, she kept singing. As she and Joseph fled from wicked King Herod, I imagine she whispered lullabies into her Child’s ears. When her Son hung upon the cross, beaten, and dying a horrible death, blood pooling at her bended knees, I am certain Mary had at least one chord from her spirit-song residing in her wounded soul. When Christ arose, the whole world sang, as did Mary.

Christmas is a time to resurrect the song the Lord has placed within us. Do you hear it? Listen closely… The Great Flutist has written a melody on the recesses of your heart that will touch future generations. Allow Emmanuel—God with us—to overtake your soul.

Heavenly Father, teach me to sing the melody You’ve inscribed on the recesses of my heart.

In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Please share your favorite portion of the Christmas story with us in the comment section below.

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God Moments by Martin Wiles