I recently received a complimentary copy of Dear Mary: Lessons from the Mother of Jesus to the Modern Mom by Sarah Jakes. This was my second time reading and reviewing a book by this author (see other review here). I really enjoy the way Mrs. Jakes writes and opens up about her life in such an honest way. Especially with this book. It makes me feel like I'm not alone for feeling the way I do sometimes. This book has been a help to me, and it definitely helped me look at Mary, the mother of Jesus in a new light.
"A mother's love is indescribable, but a mother's sacrifice is priceless. "
Being a mom is one of the scariest, most intimidating, and most rewarding things I've ever experienced. I fail a lot, but I also see small and large victories too. I'm tired, and even exhausted a majority of the time, but I'm also extremely blessed. I didn't want to be a mom, because of thought it would be extremely glamorous or even easy. I wanted to be a mom, because I wanted to experience the joy, pride, and love a baby brings. Babies also bring a lot of other things, like messy diapers, crying, spit up/throw up (and there IS A difference), etc, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. "...Mothering is not about us, but rather about guiding and nurturing our children so they are able to walk in God's chosen purpose for their lives." Ultimately, being a mom isn't even about us. Being a mom is all about your children and their needs.
"We miss the opportunity to be compassionate when we confine people to our own experiences."
The truth is, we don't ever know what someone is going through. Even when they seem to be going through circumstance that is similar to something you went through, no experience is ever the same for someone as it was/is for you. Sometimes we can't even begin to imagine what someone is going through. Don't think just because a certain situation was easy for you to go through will be easy for someone else. How often to do we pass up the chance to be compassionate to someone by sending them on with a cliché, instead of the honesty of what we are feeling in our innermost self? Be willing to be honest with your friends and fellow mom's especially. Even super heroes need sidekicks, or fellow super heroes sometimes. ;)
"We can't be faithless and raise faithful children."
Being an example to your children. This is often where I fail. My son so going through his "terrible twos", and he's a redhead, so I'm also witnessing the redheaded temper. (I know. Hard to believe anyone that cute could be rotten, huh?) I'm trying to teach my son the principle of 'being angry and sinning not' (Ephesians 4:26). I have to constantly pray for patience, because I find myself disciplining out of anger and frustration, instead out of patience, understanding, and consistency. My son is a sponge right now. He'll see me do something once and immediately pick up on how to do it himself with most things. This is awesome, but also terrifying! Time to do a self check-up and make sure that I want my son picking up the lessons I'm throwing out to him with my actions.
"Anxiety magnifies the size of our obstacles, but faith gives us the power to rise above our struggles."
Matthew 6:31-34 says, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Worry is a real thing in my life. I worry about finances. I worry about meals I cook. I worry about my house being clean. I worry about how my children will behave out in public. In other words, I'm a worry-wart. I have to pray every morning that the Lord will control my life and turn my burdens and worries over to Him.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Mary is a wonderful example of a mother. She showed faith in God, by believing the angel of Lord, when he brought the news of her baby to her. She trusted God to work out things with her espoused husband, Joseph, when she told him about her immaculate conception. She knew that her Son would save her, and that she would have to give Him up for a world that cared nothing for Him. She showed submission as she watched Jesus suffer, die, and rise again to accomplish God's plan at Calvary. She must've known that her life would be forever changed that day the angel came to her, yet she is never once recorded as complaining about the Lord's will for her life.
Mommas, this job is something you're called in to. It's not just something that you plan, or the result of an "oops!" God has a plan for you and those babies. Accept His plan. Embrace it. Those of you without babies, or with older babies can still find purpose in the younger generations. I encourage you to find someone to encourage and teach. Even if it's someone with babies of their own, we need your help, prayers, and encouraging words.
