Ponderings of A Mother
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a strong, courageous, faithful loving mother. She experienced fully the calling of the LORD God and embraced the hardship that came along with it. She is a wonderful example for all Christian mothers to emulate.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings”. (Isaiah 7:14-16)
Mary was a good loving mother and a great example to all of us. “Mother” is more than a word it is a profession and a calling. Just like Mary was called by the LORD to be a mother we also are called to be mothers. It is hard to train up a child the way the Lord want’s that child to be trained up to be.
This role has been embraced for centuries and taken for granted as an easy job in today’s society. Today mothers have to ignore the way the world trains up their children and listen to what the LORD wants this child to be trained up to be. Mary is an example of the importance of being a good responsible mother.
Luke 2:40 reminds us that Jesus “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” It was the responsibility of Mary to make use that Jesus had good food so He could physical grow. We know that Jesus had a Divine nature but we lose sight that Jesus was fully human while He was walking on this earth. Like all babies He required a mother to nurture Him, teach Him and even protect Him. Jesus needed to be clothed, fed, bathed and required all the things that our babies requires.
Luke 2:34-35 reminds us on the day Jesus was being presented in the temple of Jerusalem: “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Simeon tried to prepare Mary that there was going to be sorrow and pain involved in the life of Jesus as He grew to be a man.
This knowledge is a must for today’s mother. We have to understand our hearts will be broken and our children will be hurt in the course of their growing to adulthood. This is simple the cost of living. We cannot live our lives through our children and they do not intentionally try to hurt us but there will be times that their disobedience will pierce our souls. This is going to take contemplation or pondering in our hearts the meaning and purpose of the actions we have taken in the course of raising our children to adulthood.
Mary pondered in her heart. Ponder is to think about something carefully, to confer with one’s self. This takes a serious process of information and a careful consideration of the elements as they are presented. It is an important element in raising children that mothers take time from their busy schedules to ponder in their hearts the extraordinary gift of life that they have given.
There are many times in our lives when we “ponder” the growth of our children. Maybe it was when they went to school for the first time. We had to give our control, protection and care to another person. Maybe the ponderings took the shape of analyzing what they will be when they grow up. How they will be treated in school. Even what you will do for the rest of the time they are in school. Life is a stepping stone for both the children and for the mother. Have you taught them everything they need to know to be all that they can be for the LORD are always pledging question that could be pondered in the course of a mother’s life time with her children. Mary did the same contemplating or pondering when Jesus was twelve and found among the teachers in the temple in Jerusalem “going about His Father’s business”.
Mary taught us that there will come a time in the child’s life when a mother has to loosen the reigns and stand back and allow the child to step up. The example is at the wedding feast at Canaan where Jesus performed His first miracle. It must have been hard for Mary to allow her son, Jesus, to make the decisions regarding the path He had chosen to follow. Mary knew this path was the path that the LORD God expected Him to take.
One day all children must leave the nest and grow in the direction that they are being led to go. Mother’s today have to be so careful not to push their children into the life style they prefer. Every child born of the LORD needs to make their own decision what path they will take in life according to the direction lead by the LORD. Children need boundaries as they are growing up and eventually they need to be allowed to walk in the fullness of their calling that they have received by the LORD.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 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 19:25-27.
The words spoken by Simeon came to pass when Jesus was hung on that cross. How did Mary cope with such soul piercing agony? How did she accept the fact that this is what her son was destined to do an innocent man who had done nothing wrong was now hanging on a cross in the garbage dump. Would it be comforting or more painful to have your dying son think of your comfort and welfare instead of what was happening to him? This took courage, strength and integrity for Mary to continue.
Mary is last mentioned in Acts 1:14 and this was after the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. This is around the time of the day of Pentecost Mary was counted among the people present. This is where Mary once again becomes a great example for us. She shows us true greatness when she became involved in spreading the gospel message. Mary accepted her calling by the LORD God and embraced the difficulties that came along with the calling. She lived her life with strength, courage and most of all with humility and great faith.
Mothers today need to follow the example that Mary left us with. Accept your children for who they are in the kingdom of the LORD God. Help them become the best they can be according to their calling from the LORD. Embrace each stage of the children’s life and continue to teach them the ways of the LORD. When all is said and done turn it over to the LORD knowing you have done all you could do to help them grew strong in the physical and in the spirit and filled with wisdom all for the glory of the LORD God.
Remember a perfect mother is not a person who does not make mistakes in raising her children, but the mistakes she does make are made out of love. My personal prayer as a mother is that all my children make it to the arms of Jesus when the final roll call is sounded. God Bless all mothers!
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Ponderings of A Mother:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1926 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “Ponderings of A Mother:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1926 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Ponderings of A Mother:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1926, (accessed).
