He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. - Luke 1:48.

Today, I go to the archives of Along Life's Road from six years ago, and as a follow up to last week's column, the grass withereth and the flower fadeth, but the Word of God lasts forever. The word spoken then is as potent then as it is now. Gratitude goes out to Alfred of Batelco and Owen of Ministry of Housing for their very encouraging e-mail, which came at the ebb tide of wondering if there be any who are members of the Habit Club of Reading!
It was a noted privilege to have witnessed the swearing in of Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller as the first female prime minister of Jamaica. As the sun made its way behind the mountains in the presence of God and the overflowing company of witnesses gathered under the canopy of heaven in the gardens at King's House this beautiful, articulate, elegant, caring and capable daughter of zion, showed all and sundry that destiny was truly on her side.
All during my political career and beyond, Portia Simpson's name was on the lips of many. Caribbean Women for Democracy esteemed her. The women of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, of which I had the honor of being chairperson in 1991 saw a bright future for her.
Throughout the length and breadth of Jamaica, it was common knowledge that Portia Simpson Miller had no easy road to political prominence. And it was no wonder that in her historic inaugural address, she was most thankful that a girl from Wood Hall in deep rural St. Catherine had become prime minister of Jamaica, paving the way for anyone to come from the bottom to the top.
So bitter were some people opposed to her holding this position that they decried the fact that she had no Ph.D. behind her name. But may I say that indeed she has a Ph.D. - for she loves people and her heart is filled with compassion for the poor despised, rejected and marginalized. And former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, lauded her for her unflinching dedication to the cause. True, there may be no certificate to hang on the wall, but there is lasting impact on the heart.
Can you imagine the sip-sip in the social clubs of Nazareth when word got out that insignificant Mary was to be the mother of our Lord! Our text today tells us that Mary, on the spur of the moment, in the presence of God and the confine of her humble abode, gave to us the Magnificat.
My soul doth magnify that Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and Holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord. I think it is time that mankind get to know and understand this. God is going to the pits, dungeons and stables of circumstances and raising up sons and daughters to lofty positions. His word must be fulfilled. Righteousness exalted a nation but sin is a reproach to any people."
A recent message on the outside bulletin board of the Lively Hope Baptist Church at the intersection of Chesapeake Road and Jerome Avenue reads, "God does not call the qualified - He qualifies the called, thanks to pastor Sheldon Higgs." Too many people are judging others by outward appearances, whereas God is searching hearts. The world would be better off if persons who offer themselves to serve, especially in the arena of politics, would have the heart of a servant - not serving to get, but rather to give the best of themselves.
He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. The Jamaican prime minister began her inaugural address by saying: "I want to begin by recognizing the source of my strength, Almighty God. Let us stand and pray, Almighty God in the presence of all here attending; in the presence of the people of this land and everyone else sharing this occasion. I do pay homage to you, in acknowledgement that you are the sovereign and supreme Lord God in this island and all the world."
With such a beginning, there has to be newness for the island of Jamaica. Like the Prophetess Deborah of the Old Testament, Prime Minister Simpson Miller will rule righteously and fearlessly, with the almighty God, being the source of her strength. I join others in continued prayer.
I more so now than ever before, truly believe that God is about to do a new thing in our land, whereby men and women, who have been on the back of the mountains of Horeb, will be chosen by Him to advance to places of political prominence. Then and only then, will the land rejoice and justice will flow like a mighty stream.

E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com or write to P.O. Box SS 19725, Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's Blessings!

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian