I'd like to point out some helpful parts that this book offers, especially if you don't have the luxury of an hour of quiet time every day to ponder and read through the chapters. Even if you do, you can still benefit from taking notice of what is there for you!
What is most obvious is the title of each chapter. Don't be so quick to jump over this. It really does set the stage for what you are about to read and consider. Next is the passages from Scripture that the chapter is based on. I would encourage you to take a moment and read through these verses. They often are a quick read and can help in setting the context of the reading. Then comes the lovely poetry the author has added. It isn't there "just for pretty" (as I used to say to my little children), but is a helpful summary of what you've just read from Scripture. The last thing I want to point out is the heading of each section of paragraphs. As you come to each of these, challenge yourself by asking questions based on these headings and be looking for the answers as you read below. For instance, A Gift With A Purpose could have you looking for the answers to questions like: What gift is being referred to here? What purpose does this gift have? A Servant's Heart - What might be some qualities of a servant's heart? How does Mary show this? How might I show this? Mary's Blessing - What does it mean to "be blessed"? Do I share in this blessing? God's Mercy Through Time - How had God shown his mercy up to Mary's time? How has he shown mercy up to our time?
Now to the chapter!
I love the phrase "lyrics of faith". Maybe you already have a special verse that is your "lyric of faith" - words that offer you comfort, that burst forth praise from your lips. I should get me one of those. Maybe I'll borrow from Mary;) I thought the movie did a really good job of showing how Mary referred back to her lyrics of faith throughout her life, in good and in bad.
Hannah had recognized her son as a gift for a purpose beyond her own happiness. I'm going to come back to this thought in my question to ponder but let's just say for now that when I read this, I knew we weren't just talking about Samuel. It hit awfully close to home!
Like Mary, we are saved to serve. I appreciated the prayer that followed in that paragraph!
The paragraph that starts with Mary's happiness sprang from her special role in God's salvation story, but it didn't stop there - I have never considered what the author wrote in the following lines. Truth be told, I was jealous in that moment of what Mary experienced. To have Jesus pray for her, obey for her and tell her he loves her - I had tears in my eyes! But the author wisely anticipates that reaction and draws me back to Scripture where I am reminded that we share Mary's happiness whenever we hear God's Word with ears of faith and obey it with thankful hearts. Not only that, but Jesus does pray for all believers (like He did in the Garden of Gethsemane), He perfectly obeyed in every way of his earthly life for me (who can't), and He does tell me He loves me and knows me by name!
Mothering Like Mary
Inge proves that sharing hindsight of her long life can give encouragement and hope to others! I was especially touched by her example of having daily devotions and prayers of thanksgiving throughout her lifetime and continuing this on at her nursing home.
Ponder
Hannah came to recognize her son, Samuel, as a "gift for a purpose beyond her own happiness." How is this true for all our children? What is the danger in forgetting this truth as a parent? How is it a blessing to remember it?
I've been able to identify with Hannah especially in the last few years. Almost a year and a half ago, my husband and I brought our firstborn and only son to Luther Prep in Wisconsin to attend high school. What would motivate us to send our child almost a thousand miles away from us? The author's words here fit perfectly. Because our child is a gift for a purpose beyond our own happiness. Both of our children certainly bring us happiness but that is not their sole purpose. God has plans for them and we offer them up for His purposes whatever that may be.
The danger in forgetting this would be relying on my kids to fulfill my own needs to be happy, needed, offer company and friendship, purpose, etc. And when they fail to live up to my expectations (which they inevitably do because no one can live up to all that!), I am devastated. Only God can provide for my needs - and He does!
The blessing in remembering that they have a greater purpose than all that is - peace. That's the only thing that keeps me driving away from one great kid who's standing in the window of his dorm room waving.
And like Hannah, I would bring him a coat to wear every year if he'd wear one. But none of those Prep kids do. I get cold just looking at them!!
*and just so I'm not misunderstood, there are other ways to show that your kids are a gift with a purpose other than shipping them off a thousand miles away, although with teenagers you may get tempted occasionally for other reasons that we won't get into now:)
5 comments:
"Lyrics to live by" brought to mind another aspect of parenting (and sharing with others) - the importance, blessing, and gift of teaching Scripture to our children/others. With those passages readily in their hearts and on their lips they will not be left in despair or confusion when challenging things happen in their lives. Not only that, but they will have the tools God desires them to have and use when a godly response is necessary to an ungodly circumstance. Gods Word guides our thoughts and motives to lead our lives in repentance and thanksgiving. I had wonderful parents who did this for me. Praise be to God!
Mary's parents obviously did that as we look at Mary's response in her beautiful song. Granted she was led by the Holy Spirit as well in her response, a point I surely do not want to understate. Although we know nothing about Mary's parents, here we see they must have been faithful in Gods command to teach their children "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." I thought the movie did a good job of putting Mary's parents in that proper light. How refreshing from a Disney movie where the parents are almost always pictured stupid, mean, and/or incompetent...just a little side-thought and one that has bugged me for many years.
Thank you, Rachel, for your parenting insights as a parent leaving a child off at Prep (LPS) and the very real and raw emotions that go with it. My heart still remembers that picture and those emotions. As an added memory, driving out of sight and pulling off a side street near the school and sobbing and praying. I often wondered how many in those neighborhoods around Prep witnessed that same scene over and over ��
I liked the way the movie showed that too - gathered around the table, celebrating the Passover - an environment that children feel comfortable asking questions and parents have answers. I love the quote you mentioned from Deuteronomy. Words that lead up to that include this Word being on our own hearts and then passing it on to our children! Another motivation for me to be in the Word - so that my children will benefit from His words and promises being written on my own heart!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts:)
I'm a little late on the comments here, due to a busy weekend, but there were a few notes I was just itching to share! :-)
In the middle paragraph on page 27, the last sentence, was a gem for me. "[Mary] did not grasp at any title greater than servant or any benefits greater than her salvation." It is in our nature as humans to always be grasping at the next step of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. To be content at the level where God has put us - that is greatness.
Then the next paragraph talks about what Jesus grasped at. He also was content with the title of servant. And what benefit did he receive? The punishment for our sins! Oh dear Savior - thank you.
Page 28 talks about the word "blessed" meaning "happy." That's the definition I have always learned too. For me, however, the connotation is more than just "happy." To me, it means to have good bestowed on me, rather than being happy about my efforts, my circumstances, the good things I accomplish, etc., in and of themselves. So one who is "blessed" is not just happy, but she has had grace bestowed on her. I wonder whether the original Greek has that connotation at all.
Following on Rachel's comment about being jealous of the daily relationship Mary had with Jesus... I also had a little twinge of envy there. But then the next paragraph (the one that spans p 28-29) really made an impact, as if Jesus was directing his comment at me when he responded to the woman who called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." Jesus said we needn't envy Mary, because we can have a daily relationship with him too - "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
RFC - following up on your comment concerning "blessed" - you're absolutely right! I asked my pastor husband for insight on this and he said "a gracious gift has been given to me". Which is pretty close to what you said "to have good bestowed on me". :)
Cool! Thanks for checking on that!
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