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A Child . . . A Mother . . . And Jesus

Kathy Dingus

 

I have often wondered about Mary, the chosen one by God to be the Mother of Jesus. I have been drawn to her story, whether it be told in song or in written story form, or taken directly from the Word.

I have been a child and I have been blessed to have a wonderful Mother. Now that I am "grown up" I find myself a Mother and I marvel at the many trials Mary must have suffered.

Mary actually felt the pang of dismay at finding herself a mother-to-be, though not yet wed, discovering the awesome wonder of knowing you carry the Savior within you, and realizing that the babe within, your Son, and your Savior, must die to redeem her and the rest of the world.

For Mary to have personally seen a vision of this child, and have Angels foretell His birth, and actually name Him . . . oh my, there's so much to ponder and meditate upon.

I feel I am a good Mother, yet I cannot imagine knowing in advance the death of my child, yet alone knowing that my child must die to save my very soul.

Mary must have had special qualities that God was searching for. She did not question the great task God laid at her feet. The Bible states in Luke that Mary was highly favored by God. After the Angel revealed to Mary what great work God would have for her, Mary states simply, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

How many of us when faced with such circumstances, could even utter a single word, much less be so open to the plan

God would accomplish through us?

Mary arose and went to see Elizabeth who greets her with the words, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary is rightfully regarded as one of the great spiritual women of all time. Her attitude in Luke 1:38 is one that we women of God should try harder to emulate. Mary had this attitude when only a young woman, and was most probably still a teenager when she became pregnant!

She rejoiced in being chosen to give birth to the Son of God. Even though she was the earthly Mother of Jesus, she also recognized that her status as God's instrument wouldn't earn her salvation. She knew that she, like everyone else, needed to have a forgiver - a Savior. She thanked God that He promised to provide His son, Jesus, the Savior of the world, and herself, as well.

Mary was the one human being who was with Jesus from his birth to his death upon the cross. She saw Jesus arrive into her life when the Holy Spirit came upon her, experienced the very real human birth of Baby Jesus, and she watched the Savior Jesus die for the multitude of sins the human race already had, and would yet commit.

Simon spoke to Mary when they were in the temple dedicating young Jesus to God, Luke 2:34, ' . . . a sword shall pierce your soul . . . ' How she must have loved, and endured great loss.

But, did Mary expect riches or some wondrous treasure from God as payment for being the birth Mother of Jesus? I do not know if she expected the lowly life she would lead, birthing Jesus in a dirty stable, which were most often caves with feeding troughs carved into the rock walls.

Surely, the Son of God, the Savior of Man deserved a royal birth in plush, comfortable surroundings. Surely He didn't deserve to be a mere carpenter, and actually labor and sweat as a common slave. Didn't she deserve better?

Mary didn't wait to hear the 'rest of the story' before she agreed to serve. She didn't ask for the outcome, or want some guarantee ahead of time. She simply stated, 'I am willing, Lord. I am your servant."

Oh, how I wish I could bend my will to the Lord's that easily! I too often want assurances, or a sign from God that I am on the right path, that I am doing His will, and if I serve Him, I will receive some recompense for my sacrifice.

How much my attitude lacks . . . I fear if the Lord came to me with some wonderful, marvelous plan for my life, that I would question the outcome, want assurances that I would "not suffer unduly' for His sake". With that attitude I fear I would never know what God's great plan for my life would be. He would never reveal it to me.

Maybe that's why some of us don't know what God has in store for us. Maybe we want to know ahead of time what the outcome will be. If we could only be like Mary and surrender wholly to Him, trusting in Him to take care of our every need . . . He just might reveal to us His marvelous plans for our life... Wouldn't that be a wonderful great adventure?

I think it would be the greatest adventure of all . . .