Through the years there have been many commercials that end with the phrase “she said yes.” In addition to the wedding proposals, books, songs, and bridal stores bearing this phrase, last year’s credit card commercial featuring Jimmy Fallon and the cutest little girl ever remains a favorite. “She said yes” is a life-changing phrase in all its uses. It’s simple but always represents joy and change.

At Christmas time, I am always thankful for a young Jewish girl named Mary who said yes. In the details and pageantry of the manger, we often overlook how the story started. It begins when an angel appeared to Mary and asked her to be the mother of Jesus. She said yes! Joy and change began for us all that special day.

Luke 1:27-38 KJV, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. and the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. and when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. and the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? and the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. and Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. and the angel departed from her.” She said yes.

Later in the scripture we find what is called Mary’s song. In her song she rejoices concerning the decision she made and expresses her joy with being chosen to give birth to the Messiah. Luke 1:46-49 KJV, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”

We don’t often consider what would have happened had Mary said no. She had the freedom to say no but chose to say yes to God’s invitation to be the mother of Christ. Would God have found another way to introduce Jesus to the word? Yes, he would have, but Mary received the blessing because she said yes.

Daily, God is looking for an obedient heart open to His will and plan. He is everyday looking for those who will answer yes to his request to help further the kingdom of God on this Earth. He is looking for those who will overcome their fear of the unknown and who will say yes to His invitation.

An obedient, tender, willing heart is found in all of the characters in the Christmas story. Joseph said yes, I will marry Mary. The shepherds said yes we will see what the angels are talking about. The wise men said yes we will travel, following the star until we find the newborn King. Jesus inherited the example from these characters to say yes and applied it thirty-three years later in the Garden of Gethsemane. How profound this is!

Let’s be like Mary and all the characters in the Christmas story and say “yes” to God’s will in our life. Boundless joy and change will come when we do!