Over the past couple of months, I found myself chalking out the nativity story timelines (I Iove me a good research!) as part of Advent themed study for my children; and I noticed a pattern of how the young mother named Mary has been propelled into the lone adventure of motherhood, every step of the way! It is frightening and fascinating both at the same time. I feel frightened at what she had to endure and fascinated at how majestic was her demure, throughout the whole account.
If we were to apply the current maternal terms to her situation –
Antepartum Phase – Mostly in Galilee, where Joseph lived. Towards the end, went on an arduous road trip on perhaps the slowest means of transport – there’s a speculation as to why the journey happened before the baby was born… possibly to accommodate favourable conditions for the mother and the baby. This potentially might have triggered the labour too.
Intrapartum Phase – Away from home, in a manger, strangers home/land. It is plausible to deduce, unlike the usual visuals we are shown, that the couple probably had company – which is a common practice to bring along to help with cattle/belongings/etc. So it is possible that the young mother had some familiar faces present with her to support, while giving birth. However, it is a new place, completely exposing her to strangers, putting her totally out of her comfort zone.
Postpartum Phase – Possibly at husband’s family home in the land of Judea, for the first 40 days. After all, this was their OG destination before their journey was interrupted by the arrival of the Messiah. Next stop would be Jerusalem as per the customs and traditions, but this is a pivotal moment for her existence from then on… in her new identity as a mother, where two people, a man and a woman, of old age, who have been waiting for the Messiah to be born, finally get to meet Him! In doing so, they proclaim and prophesize the manner of child that she bore also hinting on the manner of agony her soul will face in due course of being a mother to this newborn King, the wonderful counselor, the Prince of Peace!
At every step of the way, in each phase, the young mother Mary had every reason to feel lonely and despair, because she really was! But the reality couldn’t be more sweeter, with far reaching implications for the generations to come – the Creator of the whole universe was with her quite literally, perhaps feeling/sensing her emotions, listening to her cries or words, joined in on her journey, in the most purest form, as a growing baby! – she was not alone both figuratively and literally, she had a silent companion all along.
And so, He knows us, dear mums!
Over the past few weeks, I have had intense waves of loneliness hit me sporadically, just different seasons of life I suppose. But on Christmas eve, our family randomly picked out a park and went for a picnic, just ourselves for a family time. We packed up all our food and essentials, and I made sure to include a flask of home-brewed tea, southindian style. While at the park, as I was sipping my cuppa, and my children playing at a distance under the watchful eye of my husband, there at that moment, it dawned upon me that my sense of loneliness allows for a deeper experience of God through a quiet time, a still time of prayer and meditating on God’s Word.
The scripture gives us a glimpse of how Mary took it all in, she was always attentive, taking mental notes – perhaps it’s just how mothers are wired hey? I have heard of this saying that Mothers have their eyes all over seeing even from behind! As a mum, I can vouch for that, perhaps to a varying degree but mothers in general do have that intuition. We also carry silent load… of disappointments, failures, insecurities, fears, injustice, ambitions, desires, drowning responsibilities, the list can be never ending… But the question is what do we do with it all? How do we process those? It can be burdensome without the right perspective… which is, the eternal perspective – that this world is passing, and that what we do/say/think now matters not just for now/tomorrow but also for the days to come… unto eternity!
The joys or the confusions or the fears or the apprehensions or the mood swings or every other single aspect of being a mother, right from the very early stages, Christ our Lord and Saviour has witnessed, watched, felt, sensed closely. And let’s face it, the floodgates of emotions that get unlocked in motherhood, right from when you first become a mother upon conceiving a child, are a never ending saga… whether you are a grieving mum or a busy mum or a grand mum. No matter which season of motherhood we might be in currently, let this be a comforting reminder for us – He understands you and me. Such comforting joy, what a blessed assurance!
…my sense of loneliness allows for a deeper experience of God through a quiet time, a still time of prayer and meditating on God’s Word.
And so if you find yourself feeling lonely at times, during this season of busy-ness around the year end, with never ending work, relentless outings, tense family moments; may you experience Christ’s saving grace more deeply esp in those moments of solitude.
Wishing you and yourloved ones a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Christ is Born, Glorify Him!
~mumwhoprays