As You Have Said

"'I am the Lord's servant', Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her." Luke 1:38

Imagine this scene...you are minding your own business going about your day when a messenger comes to you and explains that you are going to be put in a situation that will warrant judgement, disgrace, and humiliation for you and your family "because God had found favor" with you! This situation will ultimately result in the pain of sacrifice of your son.

You have been chosen to carry the Son of God knowing his fate. Mary was totally surrendered to God and was knowledgable on the fate of the Son of God when He was to come to save mankind. The Old Testament stated the prophesy that the Son would come to die for the sins of the world so that everyone could have eternal life. The earthly rewards of being this mother would be limited to the very early years. Her greatest reward of being called the mother of Jesus would be on the other side of Heaven and yet she answers immediately, "May it be to me as you have said."

What an amazing woman of strength, character and faith that this mother displayed. She has a forward faith that transcends all understanding as she faithfully and obediently wrapped her arms around the idea of receiving this pregnancy knowing the fate for her child. What she agreed to face in order to carry Christ, we would never sign up to experience. Without her amazing surrender Mary would have missed out on being the most precious mother of all - the mother of the Messiah.

Many mothers today have experienced suffering through different situations regarding their children but God blesses those tender spirits called Mothers, whether you mother your own children or the children of others. It is the spirit and heart of a person that constitutes what a mother is - a caring, sacrificial and loving person who reaches out beyond themselves to better the life of someone else. Thank God for mothers and thank God for sending that angel thousands of years ago to bless the ultimate selfless mother of Christ.

May we open our hearts with true abandon and say to our Father, "May it be to me as you have said" showing God our total trust in Him no matter what He may bring.

Happy Mother's Day.