Mother’s Day is around the corner, so many of us are looking for ways to honor our mothers here on earth. While we are looking to do that, many of us will be honored and remembered for the sacrifices that we make as well. While it’s great to be recognized for all the things that we have done, I find that I am always looking to improve myself.
Our Blessed Virgin, Mary, has always been and will always be the best example that us mothers can look up to. She had endured so many things that we can unite ourselves with. Regardless if we are the beginning of our motherhood journey or entering grandparent state, we can all learn something from her.
Trust in God
The minute she said “yes” she conceived our Lord and Savior. She pondered these things in heart, but also fully know that she could be ostracized by society by being a single mother. Single mothers today, society is not very easy or sympathetic towards them.
Mary had complete faith in God. She said “yes” and knew that God would take care of her, and he did! Joseph was told to not be afraid to take Mary for his wife, and they were married.
Many times, we think very far ahead of ourselves. We think that something is going to be too hard for us, so we avoid it. Let us pray to have complete abandon in God. He will provide for us, He will never leave us. He is by our side through the bad times, and He holds us in His embrace.
[Tweet “Mary had complete #trust in God. She knew God would take care of her. #faith”]
Childbirth in poverty
Not only did she have to pick up and go to be counted in a census, she had to go right when she close to deliver! Away from the comforts of home, she delivered her Son, our Savior in poverty. She wraps in scraps of cloth to keep him warm, and yet she is still full of love.
Mary teaches us that while it’s nice to have things, without Jesus we are poor. She may have been away from home, away from the comforts of her things, but she had everything she needed. Her family was important to her. Let us walk away from this knowing that we too are like Mary. Our families means a lot to us. If we ended up losing everything we owned, we know we will still be rich in love surrounded by our loved ones.
[Tweet “Away from the comforts of home, and delivering in poverty; #Mary had everything she needed.”]
Full of Grace, she teaches us humility
Many of us don’t like talking about the “S” word, but Mary teaches us a lot about this. By her saying “yes.” She submitted to the will of God. That is a huge feat, because many of us struggle everyday doing God’s will, instead of our will. But another submission that we may overlook is her submission to her husband.
Mary was full of Grace, we know the Lord was with her, but still an angel came to Saint Joseph and told him to protect his family by fleeing. The natural family hierarchy is remembered and honored. Mary, even being the mother of God, had to submit, and listen to her husband to protect her and Jesus.
There is nothing wrong submitting to our spouses, for many of us, that is when the true freedom exists–no need to compete or argue who is in control. The battle for family ruler just doesn’t exists. I firmly believe that one sex is not better than the other, but we are complimentary to each other. (CCC-369-373).
[Tweet “Let us learn from Mary’s example that harmony comes from humility. #faith “]
Strength in difficult times
Points us to the way of Life
Mary, our loving Spiritual Mother has always pointed us in the direction of her Son. If we learn to sit at the school of Mary, we will learn how to be a disciple of Christ. As mothers, we are always trying to point our children in the right direction. Help them form their conscience by teaching them right from wrong.
We know that to point them in the right direction, we too are pointing them towards Christ. Let us never waver in this duty, and remember our vocation of motherhood. Gwen over at The Revolution of Love said it so eloquently:
As Catholic mothers, we are called to witness to the world how the vocation of motherhood is a gift. We are called to a paradoxical life which the world does not understand. It is through humility, sacrifice, and the complete emptying out of oneself that true greatness is found. Motherhood is not a vocation of awards and recognition. It is often a hidden life, with only God truly knowing and appreciating all the love and work that goes into each day. The very nature of motherhood develops the virtue of humility by the constant requirement to put needs of others first. (There are few things in life more humbling than changing another’s diaper!) In reality, by her example, love, and constant giving, a mother is helping God form the character of a new soul. She is raising a new saint for Heaven. (source)
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