Being Mary

It is believed that the most honored persons in the Bible were Joseph and Mary. They had the priviledge of raising and parenting Jesus. They were with him in the good times and the bad times. They changed his diapers, bathed him, fed him, taught Him everything He knew. They hugged him, kissed his cheeks, tickled him, tucked him in bed, told him stories, and listened to his stories.

Though both Mary and Joseph were with Jesus as He was growing up, Mary stayed with Him the longest. She was with Him from conception, to death, to resurrection, and the ascension. She took Him to the Temple to be dedicated, taught Him scripture, took Him to the Temple, took Him to a wedding, where He did His first miracle. She was with Him as He ministered, watched Him being crucified, and saw Him resurrect. She was all over Him, like a mother is all over her son.

At times I wonder what it felt like to be Mary. To carry the Son of God, God incarnate. To raise Him to be a God-fearing young man, with straight morals. To teach Him right from wrong, and discipline Him when He errs. To teach Him how to interact with others in society, telling Him which social gatherings He should attend, and which He can’t. To watch Him grow from the tiny baby, to a grown man. To listen to Him pout about a chore He doesn’t like, and rejoice over being given a treat. To see him morph from a toddler, to a boy, to a robust teenager, then to an adult.

I wonder whether all her hopes and dreams for Him were fulfilled. Every mother has a hope for her child. She has this predestined plan for her, that deep inside her heart, hopes against hope that it will be fulfilled. She always pictures her child growing into the perfect adult with a respectable job and a wow character. At times I wonder whether this could be said for her. As she raised Him, was she building on any hopes, dreams, ambitions and drives? Did she have a predetermined idea on who Jesus will be? Perhaps the most respected carpenter? Or most revered teacher of the law? Did she wish He would marry and give her some grandchildren? Did she picture Him dying old, and full of life and vigour?

As Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus in the temple, Simeon predicted that a sword shall pierce her heart. Did it eventually? Was it interesting to watch Him associate with the outcasts – the tax collectors, prostitutes, lowest of the low with such ease and love? How did she react to the news that Jesus had been arrested and was to be crucified on Passover? How painful was it to watch Jesus being tortured and crucified for no tangible reason? How did it feel for her to watch people spite and hate her son, her baby boy?

How was it to have the priviledge of being Mary?