A Christian Mother
Mary the Mother of Jesus
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
In all of human history Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, must surely rank as the most famous mother of all. Both Christianity and Islam recognizes Mary as a virgin who miraculously gave birth to Jesus. It must have been very difficult for Mary to understand how she, having no sexual contact with any man, could be with a child. God comforted and assured her by the announcement of the angel Gabriel, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28)Then her cousin Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, also greeted her, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”(Luke 1:42). Roman Catholics have combined these two greetings and made a prayer out of it. They take out their rosaries of 50 beads and repeat the prayer, “Hail, Mary, full of grace. . .”
Millions of Catholics all over the world pray to her every day. Her name is even invoked in football games in America with the expression “Hail Mary Pass” that began in the Notre Dame University football games in which the quarterback would throw a desparate pass to the End Zone while Catholic football fans would take out their rosaries and pray, “Hail Mary, full of grace . . .” Many come-from-behind victories have been won by the “Fighting Irish” through the prayer of the “Hail Mary Pass.”
Mothers Raising Christian Children
If Mary, giving birth to Jesus as a virgin, must have encountered difficulty, then raising Him who is God manifested in the flesh, would almost be a near impossibility. The only place in Scripture which describes Mary raising Jesus when He was a child was recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Mary and Joseph together with Jesus who was twelve years old at that time, had been going to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. After the Feast Joseph and Mary returned home to Nazareth. They went a day's journey assuming that Jesus was also among their relatives and acquaintances. When they discovered that He was missing they returned to Jerusalem and looked for Him. After seeking for three days they found Him in the temple having a discssion with the teachers of religion.
“So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:48-52)Mary and Joseph did not understand why Jesus would ask them this question, so they must have disciplined Him for talking back at them. But Mary was more thoughtful and insightful than her husband. “but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” That is what Christian mothers should be doing when raising children in the family. They should be showing more love and concern, rather than discipline.
Personal Experience of My Parents' Love and Discipline
When the Imperial Japanese Army invaded West Malaysia I was only eleven years old. Our family, together with five other families who are our relatives, had evacuated to our uncle's tin mine in Kupoi, a small mining village that is about 18 miles south of Ipoh, Perak. Since the Japanese army had already been to our “kongsi” house (family living quarters) looking for women to rape we had to move to another safer shelter.
The excavated mine had to be flooded with water to create an island where the Engine Shed was located. All of us had to move and stay on that island. The Engine Shed is sitting on ground that is higher than its surroundings all around.
It took more than a week to flood the mine. The water level barely covered the supply water pipeline that became a submerged bridge. We sealed all the door and window openings. There was to be no cooked food so no smoke would show the Japanese we were there. Only the foreman Akee would go and buy food and supplies. Children were instructed not to go outside the Engine shed. It was extremely difficult for everyone to cope with that situation, especially the children.
Every day early in the morning our foreman Akee would walk on the submerged pipe line to go to a nearby village and buy food and supplies. One morning I followed Akee. I thought that if he could walk on the submerged pipe line, I could also do the same thing. I did not know the pipe line had a joint in the middle, so I tripped over it and fell. I could not swim. I began to pray to our Lord Jesus Christ. Akee came back, grabbed my hair and pulled me out of the water.
I still remember very clearly how both my parents reacted differently when I was brought back to the Engine Shed. My father gave me a very good spanking and scolded me for disobedience. My mother wrapped me up with a dry towel , gave me a warm hug and a warm drink. I know that both of them loved me in different ways. That is how God made fathers and mothers.
Bible Study for Mothers’ Day
Psalms 127:3-5
[3] “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
[4]Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.
[5] Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
A Christian Mother
Titus 2:3-5
[3] “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things
[4] that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
[5] to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
Teaching Children
Isaiah 28:9-10
[9] "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
[10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Honoring Parents
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
Proverbs 23:22 “Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.”
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
John 19:26-17 “When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son! “Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”