DEVOTIONAL: A mother’s heart treasure – Luke 1:26-38
By Rev. Kevin Cauley, Pastor
Darlington Presbyterian Church
As we think about our mothers this Mother’s Day month, it’s a good time to pause and think about a unique mother. She is incomparable. She carried a son whose special mission made him unlike any other man that ever walked the Earth. Of course, I am talking about Mary, the mother of our Lord. While we shouldn’t compare her to other mothers, it’s amazing to see how she was also like our ordinary mothers. Like our mothers, Mary treasured special events in her son’s life. At Jesus’ birth, shepherds told a story of encountering angels who gave a message about her newborn baby. All who heard their tale wondered what in the world they were saying. Mary knew. She treasured all they said and pondered it in her heart. When Mary and Joseph panicked over 12-year-old Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem, they astonishingly found their son in the temple asking the teachers questions. Again, no one knew what Jesus was talking about when he explained he was doing his Father’s business, but Mary knew and treasured these things in her heart. Our mothers also treasure in their hearts all of our special moments. Like our mothers, at least once that we know of, Mary called her son on the carpet. Just like any parent who realizes they must go back to the mall to pick up their wayward child, Mary, too, expressed her displeasure at having to return to pick up her son and made sure he knew how worried they were. As children become parents, they realize the big fuss was actually the expression of a loving, worried parent. Also, like our mothers, Mary had a very high opinion of her son’s great abilities. She genuinely believed in her son. So, when they were at a wedding and the wine ran out, she had no problem insisting that Jesus turn water into wine. Unlike us, he actually turned water into wine and walked on water. Every child needs a mother who believes their child can walk on water. A mother’s healthy dose of encouragement builds a healthy self-confidence, so with God’s help we will attempt to discover the possible in the impossible. Finally, like our mothers, she did not leave her son’s side on his most difficult day. Mary is found at the foot of the cross upon which her dying son was cruelly nailed. One wonders if her friends tried to persuade her to come home and not look upon the terrible sight. No one would blame her. But she stayed with him till the last moment. Even from the cross, Jesus cared for his mother, asking his beloved disciple to take her into his home as his own mother. Mothers stay close to us when we are sick, comfort us when we are sad, and love us when we have a bad day. A mother’s kind word and loving hug is a welcomed healing balm on a bad day. Mary was a mother unlike any other mother, and yet she was very much like our mothers too. God blessed us with moms who treasure us, who love us enough to correct us, who believe in us when we want to give up, and who comfort us on our most difficult days. When the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive her child by the Holy Spirit by the God who does the impossible, she responded, “I am the servant of the Lord.” Mothers are a great example of servant-hearted leadership. My mother was always caring for her sons, her family, and even for strangers. My wife and my mother-in-law are the same. Because our mothers seem ordinary, even like Mary, we tend to take for granted their acts of love on our behalf. But when someone has loved us so much, we should learn from their servant-hearted love. One of the great privileges of my life was to care for my mother during her last years. As Alzheimer’s took her mind, there were many difficult days as she could no longer remember who I was. My faith in God, and her servant-hearted example, encouraged me to continue caring for her as she cared for me. She may not have been able to remember me, but I remembered her. When she passed away, I was surprised when I prayed, “Lord, thank you for the privilege of caring for my mom as she had cared for me. This opportunity was a gift to me from You.” Let us thank God for the gift of our mothers and let us give thanks for the mother of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ who was a willing servant of the Lord. Let us praise God with Mary, the mother of our Lord, who sang (Luke 1:46-49): My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.