More Than Simply A Mother

Jesus was God, but he was also God in human form.

He was born into a dark, dank stable. As a newborn, he would have entered this world the same as every newborn before him- small and defenseless, cold and naked.

His mother Mary most likely would have had the same overwhelming feeling of love wash over her as every mother before her had- the instant she saw his face for the first time- because even though she knew he was God, she had also carried him in her womb for nine long months.

She had felt his kicks, his hiccups, his every movement.

She had suffered the pain of contractions and the agony of birth.

Even though he was God, she was simply a mother.

She nursed him while he gazed into her eyes.

She cuddled him as he slept next to her every night.

She kept him alive with her milk and her love and her care.

She carried him on her hip as she did daily chores.

She sang to him, rocked him to sleep, and dried his tears when he bumped his head.

She taught him his first word.

She held her hands out to him as he learned to walk.

He would look up into her face for a smile as they held hands through busy marketplaces, and she received his messy hugs and sloppy toddler kisses.

She taught him the Law, and spoke of the prophets and the things of God.

She watched as he grew into a young man, and a teenager, a young adult, and then into manhood.

She knew of the things that were to come, and her heart dropped as she hugged her son close.

He was God, and he had a reason for coming to Earth, but she was simply a mother.

She watched at his trial, she saw the scourging and the mocking and the people who turned against him.

She beheld his silence- how he didn't try to defend himself.

She watched him walk to the place of his death- saw them nail him to the cross, saw his suffering and his agony.

When she looked at Jesus- she saw God, yes, but more than that, she saw the baby she had suckled, the child she had held, the smiling teen that she had hugged, and the man who she waved goodbye to as he started his ministry.

He was her Saviour, God, and her Redemption- but, also her son.

She was, at the end of the day, simply a mother.

And when he was close to death, God, the Saviour of all mankind, looked at the woman who had loved him, nourished him, and raised him, and made sure that she was taken care of.

John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Because even though she was simply a mother, she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

Mamas, God chose you to be the mother of your children. Even if you think you are "simply a mother", remember that your role is yours alone- no one can fill that role but you.

Hold your children close, because soon, they will be raising families of their own. Slow down, laugh with your kids, make memories, relish the noise and the chaos and the mess.

You are not just "simply a mother", you are *their mother.

And to them, that means everything.