The year of 2023 is filled with life changing events. In preparation for our married life, my fiancé (now husband) and I bought our first house in April 2023. We got married two months later in June 2023. Although we were open to life, we decided to wait to have children until two years into our marriage. But God, having a different plan in mind, shorten our two-year plan down to two months. In August 2023, we found out that we were expecting our first child!

We rejoiced at the surprise miracle, but I could not help feeling a little bit irresponsible and disappointed in myself (and my husband) for not following the Natural Family Planning method down to the T. I found my mind flooded by “if only…” sentences, not because I regretted my pregnancy, but simply because I failed to follow my own plans 100% as if I can control my future. The feeling of helplessness was also not far away, as wave after wave of big life changing events kept coming after me before I got the chance to take a big breath of fresh air. “I am not ready” is the perfect phrase that summed up the state of my heart and mind.

The following days, Mary’s act of total surrender “Thy will be done” rested in my heart as I tried to surrender to God’s will and to trust in His Divine Providence. It was by contemplating Mary’s unexpected pregnancy journey with Jesus that I was able to see the beauty behind my pregnancy, which strengthened my faith and confidence in God. Mary did not reply to Gabriel, the Archangel, by saying “I am not ready.” Instead, with full confidence and humility, she replied “so be it, according to the Lord.” Mary knew that her pregnancy was more than just a pregnancy – it was a God-given mission, THE mission to bring Salvation to the world.

As for all us mothers, we are invited to walk with Mary, to participate in God’s creative miracle to bring new souls to the earth, and therefore new saints for Heaven.

As I contemplate more on pregnancy and parenthood, my gratitude towards God, along with confidence and trust grow deeper. In this world that is engulfed by fear, where pregnancy is not always celebrated as a miracle, where children are not always received as blessings, where the nuclear family – the domestic church – is constantly under attacked, and where more and more individuals are closing their doors to new life, I am called to fight the good fight. Just like Mary and Joseph, I am called to fight this Holy Battle alongside my husband, following the steps of the Holy Family. We, an ordinary married couple, are called and entrusted by God to become parents of this child whom He created in His image and likeness, with a heart infused with His own Divine Heart – what a blessing and honor.

With this reflection in my heart, I pray, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother and the Saints, that God would perpetually guide and protect all mothers and fathers who are called to fight this Holy Battle, in following the footsteps of Mary and Joseph, to bring about faithful generations for the Church, to give God all the praise and glory.

May God bless you,

Brigitta Olson