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Barren.

If there's one word a woman in Israel doesn't like to hear, that's it. Barren. Oh, you can't imagine how sad that is, unless you share a belief that the blessing and power of God are made known through a couple's children and their children's children.

It was especially hard on my husband, Zacharias. When a man in Israel has no children, how can he testify to the faithfulness of God to all generations? I knew he longed for a son to bring up in the ways of God. What a sorrow it would be to him if God took the branch of our family and pruned it from His vine, Israel. And I had been unable to give him a child.

It wasn't so bad when I was young and we were first married. There was plenty of time to bear a child. Even in my middle years, I kept hope that there was still an outside chance. But then one day, I was an old woman. If children are a blessing of God, then barrenness must be His curse. I bore that curse in the way everyone in our community treated us. I saw a kind of pity behind their eyes. I heard it between their words. It made my days bitter. I often thought of the story of Hannah. She was barren. She was shamed by her rival, Peninnah. That was me. I was just like Hannah. But God heard Hannah's prayer and gave her a son, so why had He not heard mine? It seemed as though God didn't care.

My husband, Zacharias, is a good man. He's a priest descended from the family of Abijah. My family also were priests from Aaron. Of course, the law does not require priests to marry within the priestly line, but it worked out that way for us. He takes his duties very seriously. In our house we have always been careful to do all that God's Word commands. And yet, I was barren. I used to lie awake at night in and imagine that I heard Rachel saying to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die." And didn't the psalmist say Jehovah would grant the barren woman a home? I went over it again and again. Hadn't I lived blamelessly before the Lord? Hadn't I done all that He had asked of me? Yet I was barren. Fertility was one of the blessings of obedience to God. Didn't Jehovah promise our people that there would not be a male or female barren among us? What was wrong with me? The questions never went away.

I'm sorry. You'd think to hear me talk I was the voice of complaint. I'm not. I am the voice of blessing. One day during the service of Zacharias' division in Jerusalem, the lot fell to him to offer incense in the Holy Place. There the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that my barrenness would soon end. Zacharias and I would have a son named John. Our son would be special. I know, I know. Every mother says the same thing. But not every mother gets her news from Gabriel. He said our son was to be dedicated to God even from my womb. John would turn many of our people back to God. Our son would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, the great prophet. Such wondrous promises!

When Zacharias came home after completing his duties at the temple, he couldn't speak a word. He was so ashamed. He used a writing tablet and made me understand that he had raised his voice in disbelief at the angel's disclosure. And because of that, he was struck speechless. Gradually I understood. The marvel of this promise seemed almost beyond belief, but it was true.

I conceived a child with Zacharias in my old age. I understand why Sarah of old named her son Isaac, which means laughter. Sometimes in the evening after our meal, we just sat together and laughed. Doesn't the thought of a pregnant granny seem funny to you? For several months I remained in seclusion. My John was to be filled with the Spirit of God while yet in my womb, and so I devoted those long quiet days to God. I see some of the young wives so busy during the time they carry their children. I was thankful for the slow, thoughtful hours of an old woman's life.

In the sixth month of my pregnancy, my young relative Mary arrived from Nazareth. I always had a special feeling for Mary. But the news she brought! Mary's visit was something of a puzzle to us. We had word only days before that she was coming. Why this hurried visit? We were glad to welcome her, but you know how your imagination tries to answer questions when your mind doesn't have all the facts. I tried to keep from thinking that Mary might be in some kind of trouble. She was engaged to a nice young man from Nazareth, and the wedding day was not that far off. Why would she suddenly leave town? I hoped there were no problems.

Mary came to the door and I braced myself. I would know by the first look at her face. She came in. "Elisabeth?" she said. Her eyes told me she needed understanding, but she was not sure how we would receive her. That hurt. Why should she doubt us? She had been like a grandchild to us and had spent many happy days as a young girl visiting with us. She knew she could trust us. What could possibly have happened to her to make her doubt us? I knew! She was pregnant! For a half a moment, I imagined the worst. But then my John gave me such a kick it was as though he were reminding me, "Mother, what good is it for you to bear Messiah's forerunner unless someone else bears Messiah?" The realization broke on me in wave after wave of bright wonder. Mary's baby was the Messiah!

"Oh, Mary! I cried. "How blessed you are among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Zacharias sat there the whole time grinning and nodding and clapping his hands. Mary already knew about our baby, but I told her everything again. And she told us of Gabriel's visit to her. I thought Zacharias would split. I think he wanted to compare notes.

In order to divert some of the town's curiosity away from Mary's unexpected visit, I began going about in public again. Oh, what a curiosity I was! Our friends laughed and teased. Zacharias, who had always enjoyed a reputation for his witty tongue, had to leave the last word to others. Whenever I made my way past the shop of Eli, who chants in the synagogue, he would laugh and sing. "Sing, O barren one! You who have borne no child. Breath forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed!"

Yes, I was one of the twelve voices of Christmas. Mine was the voice of blessing. Blessing because I was no longer barren. Blessing because in the midst of my joy, Mary arrived and added to it. Blessing because her baby would bring God's greatest blessing to the world. I was carrying the forerunner. And Mary was carrying the Savior! That is a cause for blessing.