somehow these past few years i find myself reading the beginning of luke, unplanned w the Christmas season. but there i am, shocked to find that i am again reading the story. that i somehow "stumbled" on it.
i like how luke writes.
and i was slapped in the face by this verse.
24 " After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for 5 months stayed in seclusion."

the kjv says
"And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,"

is there a reason she stayed in seclusion and hid, until the month that gabriel went to mary to tell her about her role?
funny that someone would hide for as long as she could, the very thing that would take away her "reproach among men."
i wonder if she really felt the reproach at this stage in her life or not. maybe she was worried she would lose the baby, and didnt want to tell anyone, or maybe she just liked resting in the joy that God gave her with the pregnancy- like, wanting it all to herself.

it made me think too, how when God gives to us, has us conceive something- do we cherish it? are there appropriate times to be "hiding" and taking ourselves into seclusion?
this is as far as my brain has gotten.