Mother

"Mama, take my picture next to Mother Mary, "  she called as she ran off to a statue at the entrance of church.  I obliged.  And then I reflected. . .how comforting it is to think that Mary, Jesus' mother, knows all about the joys and lows of parenting.  Her mama heart was shattered at the persecution and crucifixion of her son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  So she gets it. . .ALL of it.  The good, the bad, and the ugly. . .more so than I may ever have to experience, I hope.  She's there, to hold my mama hand and walk beside me, to encourage and inspire during times of motherhood that leave me exhausted because the Lord knew we would have those kind of days.

And this week, I'm thinking long and hard about that little girl right there.  Her fifth birthday is fast approaching and I'm reminded that it goes so incredibly fast.  We are given these little hearts to nourish and nurture and fall completely in love with, but then they grow up and hopefully discover God's purpose for their lives and they will move out and on.  And I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness.  Mary said yes to God's call on her life despite the heartbreak being Jesus' mama would bring. And my heartbreak doesn't even compare with hers, yet it exists.  It's there beneath the surface because as each year passes I'm losing a little bit more of my heart.  And I'm grappling with what that feels like today.