Our Daily Bread: O Holy NightSample

Mary Had a Baby

You have found favor with God. -Luke 1:30

As a slave in the American South, Mary Gaffney feared having children. By law, her child could be sold away. Or she could be sold away from her child.

This fearsome reality for enslaved women and their children in America adds special poignancy to the African American spiritual Christmas song, “Mary Had a Baby.”

Thought to have originated in the slave community on the South Carolina island of St. Helena in the 1700s, the song creates a “heightened sense of dignity,” as one source says, honoring the biblical Mary and her newborn child despite their humble situation.

“Laid Him in a manger,” says the song. “Traveled on a donkey,” adds the lyric. But “people keep a-comin’” to Him—because of who He is as affirmed by His brave mother.

As we read in the Gospel of Luke chapter one, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary—“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (v. 28). Mary was troubled by his words (v. 29), not understanding them.

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary . . . you will conceive and give birth to a son.’ ” Indeed, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High . . . and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (vv. 30–33).

But first, Jesus was a baby. His mother was a courageous peasant. And His birth in such humble circumstances forever changed all of us.

Patricia Raybon

After a child is born, how can a mother bestow him or her with dignity? How can you convey to them godly love?

Today’s scripture reading is from Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38.

(Read today’s scripture.)

Let’s pray…

Dear God, help me dignify new mothers by showing them and their children Your love. Amen.