Too Young!

By Kara Bolonda

I've heard different theories about the possible age of Mary when she was visited by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38. I recently realized that some of the younger estimates make her not much older than my nearly 11-year-old daughter, McKenna-a rather shocking perspective! But then, as I consider how humbly and completely Mary surrendered herself to the mission God assigned her through Gabriel, I find it quite believable that she was more child than adult.

Now that I am a mother, I find Mary's response admirably child-like. I have watched my daughter, McKenna, step into needs presented to her with no thought at all that she is too young, too unqualified, too powerless to make a difference or to be used by God. Last year, McKenna learned about homeless families in Sao Paulo, Brazil for whom a shelter was being started. She immediately got on e-mail to learn about the needs of the children and, along with others in the Mission-Minded Kids' Club, set about raising money to meet these needs. I never heard her fret, as I would have, about the magnitude of the needs and the limitations of her fundraising efforts. She simply listened to the need God had brought to her attention and stepped in to help as she was able. She trusted all the while that her effort was enough, that doing what she could, would make a difference, and that God would handle the rest.

It simply does not occur to McKenna that she needs to grow up before God will invite her to join him in loving a lost world. She recognizes the opportunities God places before her, and with the faith of a child and the encouragement of her church family, steps into them. There are plenty of child-like qualities in McKenna that I pray she grows out of. This is not one of them! It seems very fitting that in God's economy, where the least will be greatest and the Greatest become least that I, the parent, stand to learn something from my child. We are never too young-or too old or too sick or too lost-for God to call us to labor beside Him.

(See also today's sermon: "Too Young")