We first read of Mary in connection with the announcement made to her by the Angel Gabriel, that she was to become the mother of Jesus in Luke 1:26-37. Mary lived in Nazareth, a small town which was a notoriously wicked place according to John 1:46.
She was a virgin, and was engaged to be married (Matthew 1:18). In Luke 1:26-37, we read of the announcement which the Angel Gabriel made to Mary, and verse 38 tells us of Mary’s faith in God and her submission to His will.
Now you and I can only imagine the drama this wrought in Mary's life. Before she could even digest this news, she was showing. This is not news you tell your parents or your best friend. That an angel appeared? That you are supernaturally pregnant? No.
Not even Joseph her beloved, would have believed it. Thank God Joseph got his own visitation. I can imagine the whispers. However, throughout the New Testament, we see Mary keeping these things in her heart.
A great honour was bestowed upon Mary, but think of the misunderstanding and suspicion which surrounded her! To do the will of God often involves the road less traveled. It is often lonely and requires a lot of resolve. For Mary this was the beginning of a lifetime, of strange beautiful happenings.
2. Elizabeth
After the announcement, Mary left Nazareth and went to the hill country to be with her cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1:39. Elizabeth rejoiced at Mary’s news and said a very significant thing in Luke 1:45.
Not only did Elizabeth burst into a song of praise, but this released Mary, who for the first time in all this seemed to suddenly realise the true import of what was happening to her and she burst out in song in 1:46-56. Sometimes, God send our loved ones to comfirm His Word, to affirm us in our calling, to recognize the greatness in us and call it out. However, those people need to be in tune with God.
Whose Elizabeth are you? Are you playing your part? Or letting Mary flounce around in doubt?
It is not by error that she became the mother of John, who was to announce Jesus as the Messiah and baptize Him for God's work.
3. God Works With Teams
As God reveals His work in someone He requires a team, people that will fortify His child as they do the Lord's work. It might be a Miriam for Moses, a Pharaoh's Daughter, an Elizabeth, or even a Joseph.
Remember that if God is doing something around you there is a role for you to play. So we need to stay focused and in tune.
4. Even Jesus Needed His Mum
As Mary watched Jesus grow she remained around Him. Ready for whenever He would need her. That is why she was on hand, at His first Miracle at the wedding in Cana. You can see how she literally made Him do it! That is why she was at His death, and at Pentecost. Mary in many ways, and through her obedience, always pushed Jesus in the right direction when He needed it.
If our Lord could need Mary, how about us? My mother has always been my litmus test for life's decisions. Many of us will have to be this to our children as they grow up. But we can either make them or break them. We have to be in tune with their maker in order to steer them right. Like Moses' mother, we need to be prepared to let them go out into the world, for their sake.
5. Preparing the Chanel
In order to be the vessels of training, protection, wisdom and encouragement we need to be soaked in the Word. We need to drink of the river of life as we breathe life into our children, into their dreams, as we shape their relationships with others, as we determine their world view. We need to remember that to whom much is given, much is expected.
I will never forget how afraid I was when I first discovered I was pregnant. I was in my first year of marriage, in a new job and I was just about to start my masters.
I felt so afraid and ill equipped. Despite all my best plans (a baby should come after two years or so we has planned) here I was pregnant. But I remember what happened then. I told my Mother.
"You have been ready for this for a while Pheona," she said... "I will help you." Nothing calmed me down like that assurance.
I remembered how when I was a little girl she would hold my little hand and blow kisses into it whispering "I bless you with joy, I bless you with flowers etc".... so many blessings! My mother was prophesying over me! These things she did guided me in parenting my won children. I then started doing the same for my babies even while I was still pregnant.
As mothers we are shaping nations. There is no greater job on earth. We have so much authority over our children but we have to learn how to use it for their good.
6. Get Ready
So what are you doing as a mother? Are you using your tongue to build your children, are you training them with your hands, are you encouraging them to step out and succeed? Are you letting them go when you need to? Or are you crippling them with criticism, breaking their hearts with harshness or passing on wounds of abuse?
Someone told me that your children do as they see not as they are told. Your lifestyle might need to change... Be who you want them to be. Do what you want them to do. It is a high price. But it is worth it.
Mothers are chanels of blessings or curses. Choose this day which you will be. You have so much power as a mother. We learn from Mary how to stay around and be who our children need, whenever they do. She never interfered in His Ministry or told Him what to do. However when He needed her she was there. At Pentecost the disciples were nervous, tired of waiting, and being hunted. I am sure only Mary's calm presence, and Jesus's promise, kept them in the upper room.
Mothers are very often midwives to their children's dreams. So let us not burden our children with our own dreams. Let us not force them to be who we want. But let us facilitate the work of God in their lives as they find their destiny.
Let us wait to patch their battle wounds, salve their bruised egos, and mend their broken dreams. Let us be a channel for God's deliverance and forgiveness, and even through the rod, His discipline.
God Bless you.
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