BRAZIL — Thirteen-year-old Maria stood in front of a large crowd of classmates during a school retreat, clenching her hands to keep them from trembling — more out of habit than fear. A year ago, this task would have seemed impossible for her; she was so shy she would only ask her teachers questions through a classmate. But today, she spoke boldly and clearly, conquering her dread of speaking in front of others. 

Maria spoke of the impossible change that had altered her down to her core, and of the love that was strong enough to conquer panic and pain. She spoke about the troubled home in which she grew up, and about a lifetime of bullying that nearly crippled her spirit. She spoke about the power that transformed her life — she spoke about Jesus. 

As her talk concluded, her emotions rose to the surface. Standing in front of her peers, Maria sobbed, “It’s all so true, and He’s real, and I believe, I believe, I believe!” 

Her classmates could hardly believe that this was the same Maria with whom they had grown up! But there was more. 

At Christmas, Maria auditioned for the role of Jesus’ mother in the school’s nativity production. She composed her own monologue in which she explored the emotions that Mary must have felt — the fear, the confusion, the humility — when she learned who her Child was.

Her monologue continued through Mary’s emotions of sorrow at the cross and her despair at her Son’s death, finally culminating in her incredible joy at the empty tomb. Her monologue visibly touched many among the hundreds gathered there. Maria’s teachers and classmates marveled at her bold transformation. Hallelujah!

Italicized names were changed to protect identities.