Today’s gospel passage resonates with me in this season of my life because I recently gave birth to my second son. Participating in all that comes together in forming a child has made the miracles of Elizabeth and Mary’s pregnancies seem even more miraculous to me.

The spectacular nature of Elizabeth and Mary’s motherhood journeys can seem unrelatable for most of us. After all, Elizabeth’s future was mothering a rebel prophet, John, and we all know Mary’s story.

But the way these two women leaned on each other as they prepared for their children is not difficult to relate to at all. They are family who showed up for each other in an intimate moment of need.

One of the sweetest, unexpected joys of bringing home a newborn for me has been embracing help from the people who’ve shown up for my little growing family. The friend who does a pharmacy run, the sister who gives a morale boost, the ND roommate who ships coffee, the study abroad buddy who sends new books to build baby’s library—these women didn’t make treks through the desert, but their acts of care were each significant to me.

Christmas was challenging last year for many families. So many of us couldn’t participate in those heartfelt celebrations we would host because of the pandemic. Although we acknowledge those missed experiences, I believe it has filled us with a greater sense of gratitude for this year.

Going into a new holiday season, let us ask ourselves how we can show up as Mary did for Elizabeth. How can we celebrate the little miracles in our family and friends’ lives during this season and beyond?