The Prodigal's Mother

My blogger friend, Glenys, often has essays that touch my heart. This one certainly did. The poem is about the mother of a prodigal son. The biblical prodigal son’s mother isn’t even mentioned. She wasn’t a part of the parable, but he was born to a woman and such mothers exist today.

When their child is separated from the family, whether it is the heavenly family or from the earthly family, too, moms are in pain.

Of course, all mothers experience pain for their children. In so many ways they do not understand the child. Mary experienced that early.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 KJV)

There was a lot to think about over that past year. Betrothal, an angel, Joseph, Elizabeth, travel, Bethlehem, shepherds, with more to come. Lots of things to ponder, and this was truly a child of God. Everyday ordinary mothers ponder over their sleeping children still today, with much less fanfare, much less surety for the future.

She and Joseph raised Him right.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:40-42 KJV)

I wonder who kept Him those years before He was twelve. Who did Mary trust with her child? She trusted Him enough not to watch Him every moment, which can bring fear.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. (Luke 2:44-46 KJV)

She trusted Him later in life, too.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. (John 2:3 KJV)

A faithful son, He took care of her request. And there never was a doubt about His relationship to our heavenly Father.

But what about mothers of the prodigals? These women who pray without ceasing. Who bend their knees before God and pray for their children:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 KJV)

Won’t you pray with her? Move her from her knees to leaping with joy and headed for the kitchen to prepare that fatted calf?

(Wikipedia Commons: The Return of the Prodigal Son (1886-94)

from the series The Life of Christ by James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum)