This Mother’s Day let us take a moment to honor Mary. Not for the fact she risked her life during birth, she fostered a son, or the fact that she watched the loss of a child, but for the mere fact one ordinary woman was called to conduct extraordinary acts, & she did it flawlessly!

So, I am going to have to go back because I know it had to be hard, but there are relative tricks left behind through history that can all help us be this extraordinary if we truly want. So, Mary was a virgin. I have read that she was a child raised in the nunnery, and either she was to be married by a certain age, and in another way I remember she was just to serve a male in the future. Nonetheless, Mary has been stated as young as 12 (which during that time would be close to womanhood), but in our minds she is always closer to 20s/30s because this is what our current society describes as adequate.

Now, Mary, whatever age, or purpose, was told that she was going to have a baby, she then pairs with Joseph who did not initially know this was going to happen, and then now the city is looking in ridicule at the situation thinking Joseph is bad….I have to pump the brakes, are you seeing the types of mothers popping up already? Young, unwed, publicly ridiculed by others, unplanned pregnancy, young/old…now let’s keep going. Mary also was then sent with Jesus into the world to RAISE him, that means spank, yell, time out, critique. Do you think Jesus was perfect from the jump? It says he is without sin, but does that just mean the deadly sins, or literally all of them so that he was a perfect angel day in and out? I believe that Jesus, since he was knowing, already was advanced, so people who did not respect him would feel his “rath” (just like those further in the Bible that received the wrath of God).

It is intimidating to think a mortal was going to try and tell Jesus what is what, but let’s keep going. She then, in Luke 2:40-52, goes to Bethlehem with Joesph for Passover, and after leaving for like 4 days realizes Jesus is not with them, he is gone! Where could he have been? He was in the temple. This is so big for me because so many of us fear kidnappings and running away of our children. We normally “don’t understand” because we had notions of who they were going to be from the beginning, and here she is facing the same issues. She is now the mother of a runaway child, kidnapped by his calling and purpose, but like so many of us, knowing who he was, and was actually found in his essence.

Later in Mary’s life, she is then to deal with her son being popular and hated- bullying. He was teaching and traveling- she was alone/empty nester. He was condemning and forgiving- becoming the man she raised him to be. He finally was murdered and raised- she dealt with murder, child loss, acceptance of God’s will, and understanding of heaven as a home. Mary is a beast at encompassing practically every potential mother situation, but the most impressive part is that she was a stepmom (I have yet to find 1/1+ time he calls here mother, and not woman), a real mom, and a supporter with the love of Storge, and the knowing of Jehovah Shammah- the Lord is there. Her tips are in the fact she knew her role was to love, guide, let Jesus be the best he could, and follow him until death. Her ability to be flawless comes not from her lack of action, but ability to accept these things that were not ideal with love, faith, and hope that she would be able to raise Jesus correctly, & this too lies with you!

This Mother’s Day, recognize that you host the spirit of God, but you also have your mortal issues to figure out, as well that your children have this same spirit, just like what drove you to certain things, and all we all want is love. Love of being accepted, received, trusted, and wanted; your love and their love is a mutual experience that can only be shared with storge, and you have been granted this ability (no matter what form) to recognize Agape from them and in you, so make the best of it all- highs and lows.

PS: darkness may fall at any moment, but there is a light, you have the light; you just have to want for one millisecond to shine that light, and you can start to leave your darkness… ask me how I know…

Much love,

Samantha