Christmas week
Well, I have unpacked my last box! Hooray! Now to organize, clean and hang pictures…all in time. I love to create a nest.
I wonder if Mary longed to do that for her baby. Was she imagining a nursery for Him? Getting His layette stocked with the things she would need? Were neighbors lining up meals to bring to her? What about her mother…was she looking forward to helping Mary give birth? A grandchild is a really big deal and it’s wonderful to be a part of the event of the birth. It’s a family event.
And then the census degree by Caesar Augustus! It couldn’t have come at a worse time. How was she going to manage? Riding a donkey isn’t a comfortable mode of transportation – I’ve done it. But not when I was 9 months pregnant. What a miserable journey it would have been. And she couldn’t have packed too many things – they wouldn’t all fit on the donkey. Why couldn’t she just have stayed in the comfort of her own home? What was God thinking? Couldn’t He have at least provided some creature comforts for the mother of Jesus at this time? I would have been questioning, complaining, arguing…being a pain in the neck. But that didn’t seem to be Mary’s attitude. When she replied to the angel’s news by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant…let it be unto me as you have said.” she meant it! She had a tender and surrendered heart. All I can say is, WOW!
We Protestants don’t give enough attention to Mary. Our Catholic brothers and sisters are better at it than we are. But perhaps this week we can pause and think about Mary’s attitude of trust and surrender and try to have a Mary heart. There will be inconvenience this week. Things won’t go as we (or Martha Stewart) planned. The tree lights will go out. The cookies will burn. The milk will go sour. The gifts you ordered won’t arrive in time…
I know none of that measures up to what Mary had to endure…but she has set an example for us all. Let’s have a surrendered heart – no matter the challenges!
Thanks Ruth for reminding us of Mary. There is so much to be said about this young woman! I have done some study of the continued “appearances” of Mary and in all of them she is seen as the protector of the people. Her first scene in the halls of history make, in particular, all women wonder at the grace, commitment, faith, and humbleness of the mother of our Man-God! She is one of my favorite characters of the Bible….and the other one is Ruth!
Dear Ruth, her faith as a young girl is quite stunning. I think her restraint while watching her son die on the cross is even more incredible. She must have had the angels like those who ministered to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene talking to her, because I know that my human mother would have been tearing at the Roman guards to either get me down, or put my mom up there in my place had that been me on the cross. Any mother would have had that type of response. But somehow Mary had the faith to believe through the darkness moment a mother could go through, with faith. She was also very much a part of being made a mother to the disciples (John) and I agree with you that we can learn a lot from her life. We can have a special respect for her, and learn a lot. You have the power to call the Protestants to not react to Catholic undue elevation of Mary as some do. While they worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they have a special mother type of adoration of Mary, which in its place can be quite a healing example towards all our mother son relationships. Especiall how a mother can endure some of their sons mistakes, as my mother has had to. Prayer, faith, love and complete belief that I will learn and grow into the lessons God has for me has been a blessing for my mother. I pray a special blessing on your family this Christmas, because your family has blessed mine. We have a seed pod from your mothers wysteria vine growing in our house, and it brings a smile on our faces every time we walk pass it. Thanks again for that time a blessing and prayer that you brought to us through your generosity of spirit towards us. Happy New Year.
Blessings on your Christmas and thanks for the reflection on Mary. Enjoy the unpacking and nesting in your new home.