Mary and Elizabeth – The Christmas Story Part 5

What would Joseph think of her? What would her family and community say? This is the story of Mary’s visit to stay with her cousin Elizabeth and telling Joseph what the angel had told her. This poem looks at Mary’s reaction to receiving this wonderful yet life-changing news from God’s angel. How could Mary, engaged to be married to Joseph, explain why she was pregnant out of wedlock. Her visit to Elizabeth would be an encouragement to Mar,y as God’s Spirit had worked a miracle in Elizabeth’s body as well, who was beyond childbearing years and yet was now three months pregnant with the last and most important prophet of God, John the Baptist.

This poem is Part 5 of 8 parts to the poetic script that follows the Christmas Story from the very beginning to end. I will be publishing one of the Christmas poems each week leading up to Christmas week. Beverley Joy

Listen to this poem at Simply Story Poetry Podcast

Mary’s pregnancy would bring great shame

To both Mary and her fiancé

Would Joseph understand the angel and God’s plan?

And what would her family say?

Her friends, family, and community

Would disgrace her for the pregnancy

Accusing her of adultery

And the birth of an illegitimate child.

Mary told Joseph, he was very upset

Then she walked a four-day journey

To visit her cousin Elizabeth

Who was now six months pregnant.

The baby growing inside Elizabeth

Jumped for joy

When Mary arrived at her front door

Together they praised God with great joy.

Mary stayed with her for three months

Till Elizabeth was full term

Mary sang a song of praise to God

Known as ‘The Magnificat’.

Down through the ages

God’s people had waited and prayed

For the long-awaited Saviour

Growing silently in Mary’s womb.

To be continued…

Why not listen to or read the whole Christmas story: The Christmas Story Part 1, Four Unusual Women Part 2, 700BC Part 3, Mary Part 4, Mary and Elizabeth Part 5, Joseph Part 6 and The Saviour is Born Part 7.

Read or listen to my poems of Women of the Bible: It Takes Two To Tango The Adulterous Woman of John 8:1-11, She Gave From Her Heart The Woman and the Two Coins Luke 21:1-4, Sweet Temptation Eve Genesis 3, Feast or Famine Ruth and I Am Ruth, ‘Thirst Quenching’ The Woman at the Well, Mary – The Christmas Story Part 2 Four Unusual Women, Part 4 Mary, The Christmas Story Part 5 Mary and Elizabeth, The Busyness Excuse Mary and Martha, Her Touch of Simple Faith The women with the bleeding issue,