The room was quiet. It had been a week since the heavenly but intrusive celebration. Morning light spilled onto the floor. Doves cooed near the window, welcoming the new day. Jesus contentedly snuggled in and breathed steadily. He lay in the cloth wrapping that she had on hand to keep Him warm. She studied His sleeping face in wonder, and a huge sense of responsibility felt like heavy hands on her heart at the moment.

 

The tiny bundle tucked in her arm had radically changed her life. Her body was still recovering from everything. Tiredly, she looked around the space Joseph had found for them. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand and yawned quietly, trying not to stir too much and wake the baby.

 

Her mind raced over everything that had happened in the past days. The shepherds’ unannounced visit had thrown her. Their story of the massive number of angels announcing Jesus’ birth and location had explained how they had found them, but the story still shocked her. She hadn’t expected any of this to happen in this way.

 

Now a week had passed, and things were quiet. But life felt weird. Nothing was normal, and yet this moment felt as close to normal as she’d seen in some time. She relished the quiet moment and the sweetness of Jesus sleeping in her arms.

 

She thought back over the past year and shook her head. Last year at this time, she was thinking about the life she would share with Joseph. They had planned a stable and simple life, and the family had been happy about their betrothal. They would have a peaceful life. For these reasons, she looked forward to the next chapter of adulthood and having a home together.

 

Then life turned upside down. No one could have prepared for the lives God had planned for her and Joseph. Everything felt uncertain. She still tried to picture what life was supposed to be now. Then the Messiah in her arms looked up at her with sleepy baby eyes. The whole storm inside her mind ceased. It would be okay. God was with them. He would make it all make sense one day. Now in the quiet hours of the morning, she would let her mind rest and hold on to Jesus.

Perhaps we have seen life go way differently than we imagined or planned. Sometimes, we can be so close to Jesus and still feel like nothing makes sense around us. Mary was a young, newlywed with a brand-new baby and extremely odd circumstances.

 

I think in the weeks after Christmas, we can overlook how it must have looked for Mary. We skip over the deeper thoughts about what daily life may have felt like and focus only on the big moments that stand out. Yet, God gives us whispered details that can calm our anxious hearts, clear our unfocused haze, and reset our upside-down plans.

Hold on to Jesus, look into His eyes, and let His plan rewrite your imagined future.

 

God, sometimes it’s hard to keep focused, especially in the in-between seasons of life. After the big events, we feel a little lost. Thank You for being near to us in every moment. As this New Year unfolds after all the holiday hustle, thank You for steadying us with Your presence and leading us into Your perfect plan for our lives. Help us hold close to You and find comfort in Your plans for shaping our lives. We give this year to you. Amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2026: It Had Been a Week: Kristi LaRee: All Rights Reserved.