“It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected,” she said. “I was in complete and total shock and so was he.”

I think these words uttered by a young woman capture so well the reaction not only of the mother but perhaps of the family and the community from which she came.

After finding out she was pregnant, she said, “I took two weeks to myself where I didn’t tell anybody.”

Of course, this makes sense. Absorbing news like this would require time. Time to get over the shock of how this could happen, time to contemplate the future, time to understand how very different life would be once the child was brought into the world.

Oh, I’m sorry, you think I’m talking about Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney’s little sister). Actually I was thinking about Mary, Jesus’ mother. It’s a bit disconcerting to consider a 16 year old getting pregnant. But this is the reality that we consider at Christmas as we now await the imminent birth of the Savior. A young woman (we don’t actually know her exact age), chosen by God to miraculously conceive and carry Immanuel, was surely in shock. We read of her humility in the Bible, of her servant heart. We read of Joseph considering a quiet divorce to spare her public disgrace, until the angel reassures him that this was all part of God’s plan and that he should continue with his plans to marry her. All part of God’s plan.

So who knows, maybe there is just as much shock today as there was in the days of Mary when a 16 year old becomes pregnant. I’m guessing not. But let’s celebrate with great joy the birth of the Savior Jesus this Christmas – and pray for the Jamie Lynns in the world.