Mary’s Lessons for Mamas
Mary found favor with God. Gabriel told Mary:
“Greetings, favored one!
The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:28
Our children need mamas who pleases God.
Mary was a thinker. When God worked in Mary’s life, she stopped to think about it. When the angel Gabriel called her the “favored one” and told her that the Lord was with her:
. . . she was very perplexed at this statement,
and kept pondering
what kind of salutation this was.
Luke 1:29
Our children need mamas who think deeply about what really matters.
Mary knew her place. Mary understood that God is Lord and she was a bondslave. When she understood that God had given her the blessing and responsibility of becoming the mother of Jesus, she followed through with obedience.
“Behold, the bondslave of the Lord;
may it be done to me according to your word.”
Luke 1:38
Our children need mamas who live under God’s authority.
Mary sought out a wise, older woman. When she learned what God wanted her to do, she could have rushed to spend time with other girls her own age. Instead Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth.
Now at this time Mary arose
and went in a hurry to the hill country,
to a city of Judah,
and entered the house of Zacharias
and greeted Elizabeth . . . .
And Mary stayed with her about three months,
and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39-40, 56
The wise mama spends time with older women who will nurture them and encourage them to stay faithful to God.
Mary believed. Elizabeth said this about Mary:
“And blessed is she who believed
that there would be a fulfillment
of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
Luke 1:45
Our children need mamas of deep faith.
Mary worshiped God and she rejoiced in Him.
And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced
in God my Savior.”
Luke 1:46-47
Our children need mamas who worship God and mamas who rest in joy.
Mary knew God’s Word. Mary knew that God is merciful to generation after generation, that He has done mighty deeds, that He is in charge in the political world, that He exalts the humble and humbles the proud. She knew God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants (Luke 1:50-55).
Our children need mamas who know the Bible.
Mary took care of Jesus’ physical needs — even in circumstances that were not ideal.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son;
and she wrapped Him in cloths,
and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7
Our children need to rest knowing that their mamas will do whatever they need to do to take care of them.
Mary treasured what God had done in her Son’s life and kept it close in her heart.
And all who heard it wondered at the things
which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary treasured all these things,
pondering them in her heart.
Luke 2:18-19
And His father and mother were amazed
at the things which were being said about Him.
Luke 2:33
Our children need mamas who will treasure them and who will ponder their lives.
As Jesus grew up, Mary took her responsibilities as a parent seriously. She parented actively when she and Joseph realized Jesus was not with their relatives while they were returning home after a feast in Jerusalem. Mary’s Son was in subjection to her and to Joseph (Luke 2:41-51).
Our children need mamas who are willing to parent.
And through all of His childhood:
His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
Luke 2:51
Well said, Charlene! What a captivating photo of the WWII soldier. Very good guideposts to follow.
Thank you, Olive.