An isolated mother
This month we have celebrated Mothers Day in Australia. However with COVID-19 restrictions it was a very different Mothers’ Day for most. Many mothers and grandmothers didn’t see family in person because of visiting or travel restrictions or perhaps because they live in a retirement village or nursing home. These last couple of months have made many feel quite isolated from children and grandchildren, and they from mothers and grandmothers.
There was another young woman who must have experienced this feeling of loneliness and isolation at various times in her life.
Her name was Mary and she was the mother of Jesus.
It is difficult to imagine the devotion and humility of this girl who was told she was to become the mother of God’s Son. But from the moment of conception her life was changed.
This young unmarried woman who was pregnant, would have been condemned by friend and family. When she gave birth to her son she did it in a stable for animals with only her husband present. When she & Joseph were told to flee to Egypt so that their son wouldn’t be killed by Herod’s edict, they did so knowing many, many other children would be killed because of their son.
When Jesus was a baby, Simeon (in the temple) prophesied to Mary that a “sword will pierce your own soul”.
Mary watched her son go hungry and weary as he lived a life for others; she had to step back during the years of his ministry and allow him to do God’s bidding; she saw him rejected; she experienced the ultimate grief as he hung on a cross to die.
Mary was there at his crucifixion. But also at his resurrection. A time of profound joy! And she will be present when he returns and is accepted and God’s ultimate purpose is fulfilled. A time of joy as has never been!
When we feel alone and sad things happen in our lives it may help to ponder on Mary’s strength and commitment and to remember that God has promised, “"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrew 13:5)