So I meant to write this over Christmas, but I never got the chance. The thoughts still weigh on my heart and with Easter going to be here before we know it I wanted to share.
One evening a couple of days before Christmas I was holding Chloe as she slept. The house was finally quiet so I just sat in the silence staring at the precious gift that the Lord had blessed me with. I decided to listen to some quiet Christmas music and my favorite Christmas song, "Here With Us" by Joy Williams came on. As I listened to the song it began to take on new meaning for me, especially considering I was the mother of a 2 month old.
Looking down at my sleeping child I began to think of Mary and her roll in the Christmas story. Of course she was the mother of Jesus, but what great emotions did she feel as she held him for the first time? I am sure she experienced the feelings of most new, young mothers. She was most likely engulfed by feelings of love and joy, but what about fear? Not the fear of being a new mom, or the fear of giving birth as a virgin, which again is all true, but the fear of who and what Jesus was. You see Jesus was born to give his life to save the world. Can you imagine the fear Mary had as she held him for the first time and new the magnitude of his birth? In her eyes he was her son. She had to rock him, snuggle him, and feed him. As he grew she had to bandage his scrapped knees, and wipe his tears of hurt and sadness. Although he was God's son he was still a human child that experienced most everything our children experience, but with one exception. He was destined to die a horrible death to save mankind. How did Mary feel when she first looked into his small eyes and held his tiny hands? Did her joy quickly turn to fear?
What if we knew exactly when and how our children would leave us? What if we were in Mary's position? We would most likely hold our children even closer, and love them even more. For Mary her time with her son was limited, and she knew it. I imagine that first night holding Jesus tight and rocking him to sleep for the first time was even more special. As Mary held him close and smelled his sweet baby smell she soaked everyting in.
Mary was a truly special girl. I think even stronger than we give her credit for. As you hold your children don't forget Mary. What if you knew what was to come?
