My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.Luke 1:46–48

Reflecting on our experience teaching this song in the Up-Country this past month, we remembered the humility of Jesus’ birth. Mary’s home might have looked something like the Eila Rubber Plantation we were in there. You hear chickens clucking just outside and the creek running down a little beyond.

It’s quite possible that in the humility of their lives, the people who live at Eila understand Mary’s position better than we ever could. “He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate." Teaching them to sing these words, we pray that the good news of Christ would continue to take root and flourish in their hearts, that they would grow up to confidently confess who their savior is and what he has done for them.

Vicar Benjamin and Grace Vanderhyde serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Sri Lanka. In his role as vicar, Benjamin trains up musicians to serve the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church while assisting the other LCMS missionaries serving in Sri Lanka with their work and learning from them. You can read more about the Vanderhydes at www.lcms.org/vanderhyde.