For Mothers, Everywhere

(Unknown source)

This Mother’s Day I woke up thinking about Mary, and how all mothers have their children as a loan, then they go on to do things we never imagined were possible. Mary had it a bit easier than most of us – she was told how and why she would be carrying a child.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 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. (Luke 1:28-35 KJV)

I wonder how blessed she felt on that journey to Bethlehem. I remember traveling in relative comfort during the last part of my first pregnancy. How blessed would she have felt being turned away at the inn? Laying her son in a manger? Oh, that night with shepherds and angels she would ponder in her heart – along with the visit from the magi.

What do we mothers see when we look at our newborns? I believe we see some of what Mary did – hope for their future, dreams for what will be – and little of the reality we face, so very little for the heartbreak along the way.

Her son’s actions caused her sorrow:

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. (Luke 2:48 KJV)

We know she had confidence in His abilities as well as faith He would respond to her requests:

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. (John 2:5 KJV)

We know at one point he used her as an example to show brotherhood with all mankind:

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:47-50 KJV)

During His last hours, her son thought of her:

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26-27 KJV)

She never gave up on her son, was with Him through His death. That’s what mothers do. We, their children, honor them and we love them, always.