I don’t know the origin of this, but this morning a friend reposted a comment on Facebook that said, “Mary, Did You Know? Is the mansplainiest of carols. Of course she knows. Did you miss the magnificat.”

I’ve been reflecting on this all day. How Mary did know what was going on with her, and she was still able to “magnify the Lord.” She, more than anyone, knew what was going on. And yet we love this carol that attempts to explain to her what she clearly knows. How easy it is for us to think that we know more than others, and to tell them everything we think we know. It makes me want to do a better job of listening to others, of allowing others their truth, and of valuing that truth more than what I think I know about them.