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Mary- A strong woman who exemplifies a mother
Today is Mothers’ Day and mothers around the world will be pampered and praised for the sacrifices they have made over the years for their families and children. And even if there were no sacrifices there is always something special about a mother.
Today should also be a day reflective of what it means to be a mother and what it means to sacrifice for one’s children as well as help your children in bearing the struggles they may face in life.
One such mother shall forever be forefront in the annals of history –she is Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Mary endured more than most mothers can ever claim to endure and not only for a few days of her life but for almost her entire life save except for her early years as a child.
According to the Holy Bible the woes/sacrifices of Mary began at the time of the annunciation.
This is when the Angel of God, ‘Gabriel’, appeared to Mary and informed her that she has been chosen to conceive the Holy one.
A depiction the Holy Mary and baby Jesus
The only problem was that she was already spoken for in that she was about to be hitched with Joseph and was just about to conclude the wedding rituals when the Holy Ghost visited her and caused her to become impregnated.
The child would be called Jesus.
When Joseph found this out he was outraged and at first was contemplating that she be treated according to the traditional punishment –stoning to death— that he did not believe her strange tale of being impregnated by the Holy Spirit.
It was not until the Angel of God appeared to Joseph himself and confirmed Mary’s story even telling him that he must name the child Jesus and he agreed that he would remain true to his marriage despite the fact that it was not consummated as yet.
At that time, the Roman Emperor Augustus who ruled over the province required that everyone be registered so that an updated census may be had and as such Mary who was already nearing the end of her pregnancy had to travel to Bethlehem to comply with the decree.
While in Bethlehem labour pains struck as Jesus was about to be born but there was no accommodation available. Joseph checked all the inns but they were all booked to capacity and by this time Mary was writhing in labour pains.
And there it was in a humble manger that Mary’s son was born and despite the modest accommodation Mary, deep down inside, knew that her son was bound for some great feat some day but at the time she had no clue what it was.
A question to all mothers: Imagine having to look on helplessly as your son is being flogged by the religious leaders; imagine having to watch your son being flogged by Roman soldiers when his only crime was to teach peace and love; imagine watching your son being sentenced to a sound thrashing for teaching what his Father told him to tell the world; imagine the people to whom he preached not being satisfied with beating him to a pulp but calling for the release of a murderer and watch as your son is sentenced to death.
Jesus was not just sentenced to death but death by crucifixion.
For the mothers of the world imagine having to watch powerlessly as your son endures severe thrashings, having a thorn bush lodged in the head and then being made to carry his death bed through the streets, enduring stones, lashes, spits and taunts.
He was even denied water during his final march to death.
Imagine, mothers, the agony Mary had to endure as she watched helplessly as Roman soldiers drove nails though her son’s arms and feet and then hoisted him in the air to die in shame.
It did not end there. Imagine having to watch a soldier shove a spear through the ribs of your child after which his earthly body died.
Mary was vindicated for her faith in her son and her God. Mary is held with such high reverence that she is even prayed to not in the sense that she could forgive sins or grant safe passage into the desired after life but as in Guyanese terminology, “She could put in a good word.”
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