Mary the Mother of Jesus

Every December the world is in a frenzy of Christmas. As I have mentioned several times, I love Christmas. I love Christ. But because Christ is the major player in the story, we sometimes forget the other characters, for instance, Mary his mother. Not much is shared about her after Jesus' birth. I believe that this is because she is precious, sacred, and a chosen daughter of God. I have great respect for Joseph too, but he is a little bit harder to make sense of because he is only mentioned as Mary's fiancee, and after the birth of Christ, he very much disappears but for a brief mention of him when Jesus was twelve. So while I hold these two people in great esteem, I am going to focus on Mary. I very much would love to meet Mary, because I am always curious to her character and personality. Since her diary is not available. I can only comment on what is shared about her in scripture and in my own and others imagination.

Alma 7:10 says "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God."

1 Nephi 11:13-21 "[...] and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. [...] And he said unto me: Behold the virgin who thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. [...] And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms." I love that image, of Jesus cradled in his mothers arms.

Luke 1:28 "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."

I often wonder how Mary must have felt. I wonder if she really understood all that was in store for her son when the angel Gabriel first came to her. Her own response to all of this is amazing. I would be freaking out, and maybe she was to an extent but her faith in God made all the difference. Plus, she probably had a little time to ponder on her journey to cousin Elizabeth. Her response is also found in Luke 1:46-55. "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." I think she did understand, but I don't think that made it any easier for her. From all that I witness of the many mothers that surround me, I have come to understand you don't come between mama bear and her cubs. Mary, I am sure, wanted to save and protect Jesus, but she knew that he was her savior. It would take great courage to raise the man who would save the world. Two of my favorite Christmas songs were written in the perspective of Mary. Both are called the same thing, Mary's Lullaby, but they are by different people. The first one is from our church's children songbook, check it out here. Read the words. They are beautiful. I love the line "Thy tender hands so tiny now, have blessings great to bring." She must have known. In the other Mary's Lullaby by Wanda West Palmer words by Bertha A. Kleinman, she says to her baby, "For you are a king, but tonight you are mine." She goes through Jesus' life and fate, and like any mother is protective, but for this one night of heralding angels, Jesus is hers. This is my absolute favorite song, but I would love for you to listen to the words as I sing it for you. (I am a bit out of practice so forgive the clumsy playing and choking).

I think this is why I admire Mary. She was a mother. A caring, loving mother. She had worries. She had doubts I am sure(see Luke 1:34. She even questions the angel because she is not with any man yet, and that is when Gabriel said "With God nothing shall be impossible"). Mary, when Christ was on the cross suffering, she probably felt such anguish. I would imagine she was questioning why they were doing this to the person she raised, taught, clothed, fed. Still, I am sure Mary knew what was in store for her son, her baby, because she knew of the prophecies. Because she knew Jesus must die sometime, she wanted to remember all that she could. Luke 2:19 &51 (when the shepherds came) "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." (and when Jesus was 12 and found in the temple teaching) "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

Mary and Joseph were chosen people. Mary most of all. Here was probably a young teenager, told, not asked, that she was to be the mother of God. That is truly amazing. I love how God uses kids to fulfill His plan (think Joseph Smith for example). What strength of character and spirituality she must have had. For these things I admire her, and I do call her "blessed" (Luke 1:48)