Mary visits Elizabeth and tells Joseph. What would Joseph think of her? What would her family and community say? This is the story of Mary's visit to stay with her cousin Elizabeth after telling Joseph she was pregnant. This poem looks at Mary's reaction to receiving this wonderful yet life-changing news from God's angel. How could Mary, engaged to be married to Joseph, explain why she was pregnant out of wedlock? That would be scandalous enough, but also, Joseph was not the father.

Her visit to Elizabeth would be an encouragement to Mary, as God's Spirit had worked a miracle in Elizabeth's body as well, who was beyond childbearing years and yet was now three months pregnant with the last and most important prophet of God, John the Baptist.

This poem is Part 5 of 10 parts to the poetic script that follows the Christmas Story from the very beginning to the end. 

Poem: Mary and Elizabeth

Mary's pregnancy would bring great shame

To both Mary and her fiancé

Would Joseph understand the angel and God’s plan?

And what would her family say?

Her friends, family, and community

Would disgrace her for the pregnancy

Accusing her of adultery

And the birth of an illegitimate child.

Mary told Joseph, he was very upset

Then she walked a four-day journey

To visit her cousin Elizabeth

Who was now six months pregnant.

The baby growing inside Elizabeth

Jumped for joy

When Mary arrived at her front door

Together they praised God with great joy.

Mary stayed with her for three months

Till Elizabeth was full-term

Mary sang a song of praise to God

Known as ‘The Magnificat'.

Down through the ages

God's people had waited and prayed

For the long-awaited Saviour

Growing silently in Mary's womb.

To be continued...

Beverley Joy © 2019 of Simply Story Poetry All Rights Reserved

The poems in this series: The Christmas in the Garden of Eden - Part 1, Four Unusual Women - Part 2, 700BC - Part 3, Mary - Part 4, 23rd Nov, Mary and Elizabeth - Part 5, Joseph Part 6, The Savious is born - Part 7, Gifts fit for a king - Part 8, Quick, Save the Saviour - Part 9, Back to the Garden - Part 10.

Listen to my other poems on Women in the Bible - A Few Faithful Women - Easter Story Part 1, 15th April 2022, The Passion of Mary Magdalene -  Easter Story Part 2, 16th April 2022, Her Touch of Simply Faith 15th April, The women with the blood issue, 28th March, The Busyness Excuse, Mary and Martha, 22nd Feb, Mary and Elizabeth, 30th Nov 2021, Mary, 23rd Nov, Four Unusual Women 9th Nov 2021, Sweet Temptation, Eve Genesis 3, 15th Sept, She Gave From Her Heart The Woman and the Two Coins Luke 21:1-4, 17th August, Takes Two To Tango The Adulterous Woman of John 8:1-11 1st July, I Am Ruth, 3rd June and Feast or Famine, Ruth 27th May, and 'Thirst Quenching' The Woman at the Well, 27th April 2021.

Read or listen to my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at simplystorypoetry.com and follow me on Instagram.

Thank you for listening to my poem. I appreciate it. Beverley Joy