Everyday Beautiful

I promised this post a while back, so apologies for the delay!  Today I will take you into the (virtual) experience of a cultural introduction between an engaged couple's families.  This introduction took place in Akisim, Soroti District, Uganda.  The introduction was between my dear friend Katie's family and the family of her fiancé, Anthony.  Part of the compound belonging to Katie's father, where the introduction took place. We arrived at 2:30 p.m. to find the host family had been preparing and waiting for the festivities since morning. Katie (in the middle, wearing pink) and her entourage of girls. A first group of ladies, which does not include the bride-to-be, prepare to go out while covered by a blanket. Waiting for festivities to start. The first group of hidden ladies, led by another woman cheering and waving her flag. The group dances to music blaring from a loudspeaker.  They dance around the table and mat set up before settling onto the mat, still co...

I find that each year, the Holy Spirit presses a different aspect of the Christmas story on my heart. This year, in light of the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the resulting vicious battle from state to state surrounding abortion, I was struck by Mary and Joseph's humble and joyous acceptance of a mysterious pregnancy.  Think about it!   Mary was a young girl living among the poor working class.  The angel Gabriel's news of her pregnancy was not an easily welcomed message.  If she accepted to birth this mysterious baby, she would face consequences: rejection by her family and fiancé, gossip and ridicule forever surrounding her name, giving birth and raising a child alone... if she lived to do so.  The penalty among the Jews for immorality (what other Jews would believe Mary did) was death.  Mary literally risked facing a death penalty!  Yet she accepted to carry this holy baby to term.  She did not attempt to refuse God's will or abort the baby....