Happy Mother's Day 2017

Have you ever thought about what it must have been like to raise the Son of God?  To never to have to deal with the "terrible two's," at least with your oldest? In Luke 1:48 in the NLT, Mary describes herself as lowly.  "For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed."  That was Mary.  Up until the point that the angel Gabriel appeared to her, she was just a young girl in the shadows, probably no more than 14 or 15 years old, by all practical purposes in this world, she was a nobody.  In an instant, her life changed for all of eternity.  

Reflecting on Mother's Day this year, I began to wonder about what Mary knew and when she knew it.  She knew Jesus was special, that he was miraculously conceived through the Holy Spirit, but did she know he would have to die for the sins of the world, your sins, my sins, and even her own?

What did she think after she and Joseph took their eight day old son to the temple to be circumcised?  Remember the old man Simeon lifted their boy up and prophesied over Him?  Near the end of his declaration, he said these ominous words referring to Mary, "...a sword will pierce through your own soul....." Luke 2:35 NKJV.  How many times did she ponder that?  Did she ever ask her Son what the old man meant?  Did those words flash back into her mind as she saw her boy and her Savior hung on the cross?  There’s no greater pain than a parent having to bury one of their own children.  Mary knew He was special, knew He was the Son of God, but did she know that He lived as a man, so that He could die?

In the words of Mark Lowry’s song, Mary Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.
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What did Mary know and when? 

We should honor Mary as God has honored her, though we should not worship her.  Likewise, we should honor our own mothers for their decision to partner with God in giving us life.  Giving us the opportunity to love and to learn of our Savior Jesus, to be forgiven and have a personal relationship with our Lord.  Happy Mother Day to all the Mom's out there, both physical and spiritual, for your nurture, love, and grace.  God Bless.