“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. (Luke 1:36-40)
In the movie, Christmas Camp, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1jUg58shio an advertising executive pleaded with her boss to do a Christmas campaign for a toy company because a possible promotion was involved. But she was clueless about the spirit of Christmas, so her employer sent her to Christmas boot camp. She and the other campers learned patience, inclusion, giving, and love. Not only did she receive the blessing of a promotion, she shared the campaign and monetary bonus with a co-worker. She prepared and became humble, both essential qualities to receive a blessing. As most Christmas movies, it was a sweet story, but it failed to teach us that faith in God is the third essential ingredient to receive a miracle.
We learn through this scripture that Mary was willing to prepare, the first ingredient for a miracle not preceded by bad events. She scuttled off on her own to learn all she could from her elder relative Elizabeth, a wise and faithful woman. Gabriel perked her interest but did not tell Mary she had to go. After Gabriel told Mary that no word from God will ever fail, her first response was, “I am the Lord’s servant,” golden words to God because he uses the humble, the second ingredient to receiving a miracle. Mary’s second response to Gabriel was “May your word to me be fulfilled.” She had faith the message from God was true. The third ingredient is faith. Mary received her miracle.
Being prepared, being humble, and being faithful are ingredients for a miracle. I don’t believe that these things are always present for a miracle to occur. I have heard and read peoples stories that indicate the opposite. People that are down on their luck and have lost all faith in human kind and all faith that God is present in their life, and yet they receive a miracle and realize that God is there for them. They have had a life changing experience that shows them that God is there and loves them. Those are the miracles where something bad happens before something good happens.
Thanks so much for your comment. You are quite right and I edited my post.