I'm not sure Mary knew that her baby boy would one day walk on water. I doubt she could have predicted that he would calm storms with his hand or give sight to a blind man. My guess is that Mary had more questions than answers after her little conversation with Gabriel, and that would be expected.

However, a close look at Mary's part in the story can show us some things that Mary seemed to know really well. And those truths can also help us celebrate Christmas and follow Jesus through all the seasons.

Mary knew nothing was impossible for God

Gabriel's announcement sounds impossible. This is not how the birds and the bees work. Mary asks a fair question, but then she moves to acceptance. God is the God of the impossible and Mary seems to know that very well.

What about you? Is there something in your life right now that feels impossible? A goal you don't think you can reach? A relationship you don't think can be saved? A problem you don't think can be solved?

Nothing is impossible for God. Nothing. He may not do what we want Him to do when we want Him to do it. But there is no limit to His power. We must learn to trust His ability and submit to His timing.

Mary knew that she could trust God's plan.

Her response to this news is remarkable. Luke records it in Luke 1:38 - "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

What a statement of faith! It is easy to marvel at the incredible role that Mary gets to play. God chose her to be the mother of the Messiah! She will be able to one-up everybody at story-time for the rest of her life.

Even so, there was a great cost for Mary to consider. Embracing this crazy plan could have cost her everything. This could have easily ended things with Joseph (and it almost did). No doubt the rumor mill in Nazareth proved pretty unkind to her version of the story. I would imagine even Mary's parents struggled to believe her. She surely endured shame, scorn, judgment, skepticism, and more. She also had to watch her son grow up to be betrayed and killed on a cross. As great as this plan was for her, it included plenty of suffering and hardship.

Mary accepted it anyway. She seems to know that God's plans are better. His dreams are bigger. Mary trust's God's plan for her life. "Let it be to me..."

What about you? Following Jesus will cost you something. Jesus made that really clear in his teaching. There will be desires you have to deny and dreams that have to die. But the truth is it will be worth it. Jesus is always worth it. His plans and dreams for our lives are always better and bigger than our own.

Mary knew it wasn't about her.

Mary's magnificent song begins with, "My soul magnifies the Lord." She continues on to proclaim that God was doing a mighty work in and through her in spite of her humble background and status. God chose her because of His grace, and Mary seems to know her role is to bring glory to Him.

Her role in the story is uniquely hers. She is the only one that can play it. However, her acceptance of her role by grace and her willingness to point others to Jesus is a part we all can learn from and emulate. God allows us to play a part in His story. We get to live for His glory. As we understand more and more how great God is, we magnify Him in worship. And we glorify Him in all the earth.

Mary may not have known everything, but she knew enough to help us follow Jesus as we see her response and example. Let's follow Him more closely and worship Him more intently this Christmas and beyond.