What Was Mary Doing When Gabriel Appeared
If you believe in Christmas, it would’ve been in May
I decided it was a beautiful Spring Day with soft breezes blowing. The harsh Middle East winter was in the past, and March and its roaring winds had come and gone. Balmy April, with its showers, had nourished the earth and coaxed new life from old growth.
That morning she had dressed in a hurry to get outside, joyful and content in her teenage world. She was proud of her tunic, having spun and woven the fabric herself. She had another one safely stored for best wear. Breakfast of bread and figs done, she’d rushed her morning chores, eager to get away from her younger siblings.
In “my” story, Mary had three young brothers whom she loved and helped care for, but for some reason, she wanted to be alone on that day in May. Her mother had agreed that Mary could go off and do her own thing.
Brainstorming with my BFF
(aka Best Friend Forever and a Font of Biblical knowledge).
My BFF decided that Mary went to a nearby olive grove to walk. She treasured the alone time and would stroll among these ancient trees. Maybe she picked a leaf to rub between her fingers. Maybe she bent down to pick some little wildflower growing at the tree’s base.
