I've been talking with a friend about his upcoming move in February, and the anxiety he's been feeling.   Today he told me that he's now excited about going.  I asked him what changed."Someone told me to think of the move as a clean slate, a chance to reinvent myself."Hearing that made me feel so sad, because I don't want him to change.  My comfort in February will be in knowing that, somewhere out there, he will go on being the person I have come to know and care for.  I like him just the way he is, and I told him so.By the look on his face, I'm guessing he had no idea how highly I favored him."Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you," the angel Gabriel said to Mary (Luke 1:28).Imagine, being favored by God!  You would think that finding out how much God favors you would calm all of your anxiety, but we read that Mary was "greatly troubled" at the words (Luke 1:29) and wondered what they meant.  The angel reassured her:"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:30-32).After that, Mary "got ready and hurried" over to share the news with her relative, Elizabeth.  I love reading about their visit, and the conversation which the two women shared."Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth asked (Luke 1:42-43).I'm in awe of how God's Holy Spirit moved her to speak such beautiful words of praise, which have been recorded for us to read all of these years later.  At the same time, knowing that the two women took comfort in just being together warms my heart.Mary favored Elizabeth.  She shared God's favor with her.  Mary's beautiful song, now known all over the world as The Magnificat, was originally spoken for Elizabeth's ears.In her song, Mary magnifies (gives glory to) God for remembering her:"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name" (Luke 1:46-49).Mary hadn't known how much God favored her, and Elizabeth hadn't realized how favored she was either.  Until now.Realizing how much God favors you, how much He loves you, changes a person.Surely the shepherds, out keeping watch over their sheep on the night Jesus was born, had no idea how much God was about to favor them!  But then an angel of the Lord appeared, "and the glory of the Lord shone around them..." (Luke 2:9)."Do not be afraid," the angel said.  "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).And then,"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests'" (Luke 2:14).You are favored!  God's favor rests on you.  You no longer need to fear!  God loves you and Jesus has come to save you!What a message.The shepherds were invited to come and behold the Savior with their own eyes, on that glorious night when God announced his favor, not just of them, but of all the world.  They were so excited that they spread the word about God's love in Jesus, and "all who heard it were amazed" (Luke 2:18).I wish I could have seen the expressions on their faces.Maybe it looked something like the one on my friend's face, when I shared God's favor with him today.