The Blessed Mother

Yesterday we celebrated, honored, and blessed our precious mothers. As I think about moms all over the world, I cannot help but think about the most favored, blessed mother of all, Mary, the mother of Jesus. In our Christian faith, we do not reference Mary often, but when I think of her, it gives me strength to redefine what a blessed mother really looks like and how I can do motherhood with a renewed confidence.  

I often wonder what the teenage Mary thought while holding the little Savior of the world. Fully God, fully man all wrapped in a swaddling cloth. I remember holding George for the first time and ‘overwhelmed’ is the first thought that comes to my mind. I was overwhelmed with love, with fear, with worry, and with every emotion that one could feel all at once. With all the emotions, I did not have the added pressure of birthing the King of the World. Mary must have felt the Holy Spirit as she rocked Him, but I cannot help but imagine she was a bit worried to say the least, and overwhelmed might be a word she would use. 

Mary was a mother of faith and complete dedication (one who stood by her son all the way to the very end). She was involved, present, and a great encourager. She was the one who encouraged Jesus to perform His first miracle of turning water to wine. A mother who loved fiercely, who endured hardship beyond what any mother should have to face. 

As we read in Luke 1:28, the angel appeared to Mary and said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Although scripture said she was “greatly troubled” at the news of being the mother of Jesus, she responded with- “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38.

Before Mary birthed Jesus, she started her “favored” life in a posture of, I might be stoned to death for being pregnant and unmarried, but I will choose His way. After he was born, every firstborn male was to be consecrated to the Lord. She took Jesus to the temple, then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, Luke 2:34. I’m sure this is not the news any new mother would like to hear. She then had to hide her new baby boy as King Herod wanted to kill Him. When Jesus was 12 years old, He was left at the temple, and when Mary found Him she said, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” Luke 2:48 This makes me believe that even Mary felt anxiety raising Jesus at times. The pressure of doing motherhood in this capacity is unimaginable.  

Then came the sword that pierced her soul. Mary had to bear witness to her Son having the most brutal, taunting, horrific, most terrible death that was ever recorded in history. She had to watch Him drag His own cross, while blood dripped from His brow. To watch Him be whipped and taunted. She had to hear Him cry out to His Heavenly Father, saying, “why have you forsaken me,” and there was NOTHING she could do to stop it. Every shiver, every tear, every drop of blood; she had to watch it all. The favored Mother Mary was blessed by God, but how can we look at her and see her blessed and highly favored?

Mary had great Faith in God and said yes to His will, for THAT she was blessed. God chose her to be the mother of Jesus, and for THAT she was favored. Jesus, three days later rose from the grave and saved us all from eternal death to eternal life. She was part of the story that God had planned from the very beginning of time, and for that she is admired. Mary was just a human girl, who loved God and was faithful in His plan. She was not blessed because of the ease of motherhood, moreover we can all see that her life was full of hardships, but the end result revealed the victory.    

As mothers, we say yes to God’s plan, and for that we are blessed, we trust Him in every step and know that He appointed and anointed us to raise our babies for such a time as this, and for that we are favored. We know the eternal glory that awaits us, and for that we can have peace in ALL that we do. If Mary could raise the Savior of the World with the extreme weight that carried, then we can do this too. We can do motherhood with grace, peace, and confidence for we know who and whose we are and that His plan from the beginning was for us to be called, mom.  

Happy Mother’s Day.