We celebrate Mothers Day in honor of all mothers. Motherhood is a great privilege, and yet a great responsibility that God has bestowed upon women. There are many mothers who have directly or indirectly influenced and shaped the course of history.

The Bible also has accounts of many mothers who have played pivotal roles in the history of mankind; but none as significant as that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary is the epitome of all goodness and godliness, and yet she is a picture of humility and modesty – a woman with all the emotions and aspirations of a regular mother. As a woman, she was a chaste, godly woman whom God chose as a vehicle for the birth of the Messiah – a unique role which no other woman in the past, present or future will ever play. It is only appropriate that with Elizabeth we should say " Blessed art you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:42)

Not much has been said about Mary as a mother. Let us look at her in the role of a mother from the few narrations and incidents that we have in the gospels. The first picture of Mary as a mother is in Luke 2: 19 (But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart). Here we see Mary who treasured every moment of her new born. Mary and Joseph were from a poor background, and from the Bible accounts, we know that Mary did not have a comfortable delivery or expensive baby clothes to pamper her son; for that matter she did not even have a proper place to lay her newborn. And yet, she seemed to be a picture of perfect peace and happiness in spite of all the hardship she had to experience in the process of the birth of her son.

The next picture we have of Mary as a mother is in Luke 2: 48 when Jesus was 12. This is a picture of a very anxious and concerned mother. Even though the angel Gabriel had told her that her son shall be called the 'Son of the Most High' (Luke 1:32), Mary had not fully grasped the mission of Jesus; to her, he was her precious 12 year old son, and she had concerns and anxieties as any mother of a 12-year old would have. Her worries might have been put to rest when Jesus himself first made known to her his real mission, and then subjected to his parents.

We do not have much about the intervening years between the above incident and the public ministry of Jesus, except what is said in Luke 2: 51-52. But we can be justified in speculating that Mary was a loving and caring mother who took great delight in her son, and that she respected him and gave him the space for growth as an individual, without being too pushy. As we move on to the time of Jesus' public ministry, we have in John 2: 1-5, the wedding in Cana of Galilee where Jesus performs his first recorded miracle. Here we see that Mary was instrumental in bringing to Jesus' attention, the situation where there was no more wine at the wedding. We all know how Jesus responded to this. But being a wise, patient and sensitive mother, she did not enforce her bidding, nor did she lose confidence in her son's capacity. Instead, she told the servants to follow Jesus' instructions.

The picture of Mary as a mother culminates in John 19:25 at the foot of Calvary where she had to witness her firstborn become the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the whole human race. When she helplessly watched her son go through this excruciating and gruesome death, as a mother the pain and agony must have been heart wrenching. It may be that she was preparing herself for the inevitable; yet this did not diminish her deep pain and anguish to see her son die the shameful death on the cross. Perhaps, having realized Jesus' mission, she too must have submitted all her plans and dreams for her son to God's will.

As mothers, let us ponder on what we can learn from the mother of Jesus. Like Mary, we too can learn to be content and peaceful in adverse situations. As mothers we sometimes tend to worry too much about our children and their future, forgetting the fact that God who created them and who is in control of the whole universe is more than able to take care of our children. It is only natural that we worry about our children, but worrying beyond a limit does not serve any purpose. If we entrust our children into the hands of God, we will have the assurance and peace that Mary might have experienced in her struggle as a mother. Let us learn to appreciate and encourage our children even as we rebuke and correct them.

Another lesson that we can learn from the life of Mary as a mother is the fact that we should accept our children as unique individuals and learn to respect and honor them. We need to give them space to grow into full potential individuals that they should be, not limiting or stifling them. Very often we enforce our will and plans in our children's life, sometimes trying to realize our broken dreams, and sometimes extending our achievements through our children. How often do we seek God's will and plan in our children's lives – whatever be it? Let us as mothers pray that God will give us the wisdom and grace to bring up our children as God-fearing individuals who will seek and learn to do God's will, and will be in the center of God's plan.

Americans celebrate Mothers' Day on the 2nd Sunday of the month of May. Children honor their mothers with gifts and using special china, silver and linen. They decorate themselves with the carnation flowers in honor of their mothers, pinck if mom is alive and white if she is deseased.

It all started with a lady named Anna Jarvis, who hailed from Philadelphia. She persuaded her church to celebrate Mothers' day on the 2nd Sunday of May, which was her mothers death anniversary. she campaigned to establish a National Mothers day.

Five years later, in 1906, the then president of United States, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the 2nd Sunday of May as the National Mothers' Day of America.

In the Indian culture, every day is Mothers' day. Children used to be brought up with the thought that the mother and father are the 'visible gods' of the children. Even now, many Indians touch their mother's feet and get her blessings before they leave their homes, because they believe that her blessings and prayers will protect them from any ham they face in the day!

That father had given the highest kind of love there is - the giving of his life so people he loved wouldn't have to die. It is that kind of love that touches us in the deepest part of us - compelling love. We have to open your heart to the One who has loved us like that.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God sacrificed His body between us and the awful consequences of running our own life - eternal damnation or separation from God. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the wrath of God's judgment on Himself. He died so we don't have to die an eternal death. It's Jesus who said those oft-quoted words: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Then, in John 10:11, our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." I'm one of those sheep He laid down His life for. And so are you. And that's why it is so important that you make sure you belong to Him, that you've responded to Jesus.

Malcolm Muggeridge was one of the most respected British journalists of the last century. His keen insights and distinctive writings appeared regularly in some of England's most respected publications. For much of his life, he was an articulate unbeliever when it came to Jesus Christ. But later in life, his perspective changed dramatically. He became a committed and outspoken follower of Jesus Christ. When he was asked what drew him to Christ, he simply said, "It is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ."

Not Christianity, not rituals, not beliefs, not even the great teachings and miracles of Jesus - it was His cross which really is a magnet in that old hunk of wood - a magnet that draws us to the foot of that cross to see how very much He loves us. We have to walk up to that old skull-shaped hill and there at the foot of that cross and look at the agony of the Son of God, nailed to that cross. And listen as He looks on our way and says, "Father, forgive him" ... "Father, forgive her" and then, bow down, humiliate ourself at that cross and give ourself to this One who cared more about your life than His own.Put all the excuses aside, all those questions - and just let it finally overwhelm us - God's one and only Son loves me ... He died for me!

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MAR BASELIOUS MARTHOMA MATHEWS II

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