Mother’s Day – Jesus’ Conclusion
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, “Here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27 (NIV)
Friday I wrote a devotion regarding Mother’s Day that may have left many with the sense that being a mother is terribly hard and why would anyone want to take on the job! It is a difficult job and should not be attempted on your own. If there was any part of your life that needed God’s wisdom, God’s strength, God’s courage, God’s compassion, God’s forgiveness, and God’s love – motherhood is it.
The Good News is from the Cross we see Jesus speak some of His last words to His mother and about His mother. In the agonizing moments as the seconds tick down to the completion of His mission, Jesus reaches out to the woman who said, “Yes” to God and fulfilled her mission.
I don’t know everything about God’s mission for my children any more than Mary did. Their relationship with God is personal, not a offshoot of mine. But in the all the laughter we’ve shared, all the tears I have wiped away, the skinned knees I’ve bandaged, the nightmares I have hugged and prayed away and fevers I have worried over, I have tried to always lean on God and show my children where the thanks belong. As I’ve cheered at baseball and basketball ballgames and gymnastic and swim meets, I have felt God’s pleasure just as in our dark moments through divorce and death, God has been the shelter we ran to.
On this Mother’s Day weekend, I join Mary in her song:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1:46-49 (ESV)
Thank You, LORD, for allowing me to be Your hands and feet. To You be all the glory and praise!