As with all mothers, I would expect that Mary’s memory of her child’s birth has to be one of her most precious. It was 2026 earthly years ago but probably seems like only yesterday. Those private, quiet moments in the cave holding her newborn son, watching Him sleep, counting his toes, adjusting to being a mother. Sound relatable?

I am sure there are endless endearing moments of hers that were never recorded: the first time Jesus rolled over, crawled, took his first steps. The first time He called her Eema (mama), lost his first tooth, memorized his first prayer. All mothers hold these memories dear.

She endured small sorrows when Jesus skinned his knee and was misunderstood by his classmates. Bigger sorrows when He left her to start his ministry and was threatened by townspeople in their synagogue. Then she had immense sorrows when his destiny led him in a direction she could not control or understand.

Reflecting on the fullness of Mary’s life helps us to humanize our Blessed Mother, to remember that she was a woman first, an earthly mother that had the feelings and emotions and experiences of mothers today. A woman that didn’t have all the answers or know the future, but grew in knowledge and understanding as each day passed, just as we do. She understands us, and shares in the joys, fears, triumphs, and sorrows that we keep in our hearts.

Mary is relatable to all mothers in both our joys and our sorrows if we allow it. We can mistakenly focus on the differences, but we are more like her than we are different. Mary, Jesus’ first disciple, has been there, done that, and can show us the way; and by following her way, we are following the way of her Son.

Scripture: Read Luke 2:51. Imagine some memories that Mary may have kept in her heart.

Call to Action: Make a list of things you have in common with Our Heavenly Mother.