Recently I was reminded of a piece of advice that one of our friends gave us when I was pregnant with our first child. What he told us was: “You need to know that when the baby is born, you will give up the next six months of your life.” Hoo-ha, we thought. Maybe that was what happened with your baby, but it won’t happen with ours. Several months later, we got it. He was, of course, absolutely on the money.
Our daughter gave birth to her first child nine weeks ago today, and I gave her this advice when she was carrying that precious child. Unlike her mother, she believed the advice, and she has relaxed into child rearing in a way that amazes me. Such a privilege to see!
Because it is Advent, my thoughts move to Mary, the Mother of God. Who gets to be the Mother of God? A simple peasant woman. I think of her as she carried her first born child, as she gave birth to him, as she fed him and swaddled him and bounced him when he cried – just as my daughter does. I feel such sadness for her – knowing that the delivery of her baby was accomplished so far from home, such a distance from the help of her immediate family.
And life with this child became so much worse, so quickly. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple, an older man named Simeon told her, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many may be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” (Luke 2:34-35)
From the very earliest days of the life of her child, Mary is completely aware that this son will be the origin of great suffering for her. Pope John Paul II explained it this way: “While this announcement on the one hand confirms Mary’s faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be mysterious and sorrowful.”
So I am the more amazed that this young adolescent female ever uttered the words that she says to her cousin: My soul magnifies my Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:46) She gave her body. She gave her self. She gave her life – in complete surrender. At this time of year, we are reminded to wait with the Mother of God – in joyful anticipation that Christ has come, that Christ will come again. What an honor!
The Rev. Deacon Kitty Davis serves as deacon to St. James Episcopal Church. Kitty is also a therapist and is a native Wilmingtonian. She and her husband enjoy life on the waterfront, life with dogs, parenthood and grandparenthood.
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