The Christmas story is the story of ordinary people being overshadowed by an extraordinary God. Before Jesus is born Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth. When the two meet face to face the two are overshadowed by God's spirit of joy. Elizabeth, also pregnant, is filled with the Holy Spirit. In God overshadowing Elizabeth she is an encouragement to Mary, she is able to discern what God is doing through the events that unfold in the narrative, and she is able to raise her own son, John, though she is advanced in age.