Raising Jesus

November 8, 2010

We are already in range of counting down to CHRISTmas in terms of weeks rather than months. How did that happen so fast? Life is flying by me at lightening speed. I am changing my mindset into a Spirit of Thankfulness and Giving. I am planning my CHRISTmas lists, checking them twice, and marking off purchases made. I am anticipating "Black Friday". (It is a day that was made just for me, you know.) I am making my CHRISTmas cards, and planning for my baby's birthday (which is December 20th). I am thinking about invitations for our annual CHRISTmas party.

In all of the hullabaloo, I don't want to forget WHY I am doing all of these things. I want to remember that long ride of a very pregnant virgin on the back of a donkey all those years ago. I want to remember a promise fulfilled. I want to remember angels rejoicing at the birth of our Savior, of my Savior! I want to try to imagine how His mother felt the first time she saw Him. How humble she must've been. How much in awe she was.

Then I think, "How do you raise the Son of God?" I mean, really, how does that work? If He was sinless, then discipline could not have been a problem. But, I mean, He's the Son of God. Do you feel an obligation to take instruction from Him? Do you show favoritism to Him among all of your children? Does he get a later curfew than the others? Does he get extra dessert? Okay. Probably not. I imagine that she had to have been special herself for God to have chosen HER. She had to have been blessed with wisdom and special character to be able to handle such a task.

Next time I think that raising my children is a daunting and difficult task, I probably should pause and reflect on the job Mary had before her some two thousand years ago and count my blessings.

"Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 'Don't be frightened, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!'" Luke 1:29-33