Since Mother’s Day is tomorrow I have been thinking about the ultimate mother, Mary. In 2016 Tyler Perry produced a program called “The Passion” at Easter time and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, but I was struck not so much by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (that always deserves a hallelujah and amen!) portrayed in the show, but of the sacrifice of Mary. Trisha Yearwood played the part of Mary and there was a song called Broken that she sang right before Jesus was put to death. It tore me up inside and made me really reflect on how Mary felt giving up her son for the whole world.

I don’t know if I could have been as brave as she. Mary had incredible faith and knew from the time that she had the baby that He was not all hers. However, I think (this is purely my opinion) like many, she pushed the thought that some day He would be gone to the back of her head, or maybe it was there all along waiting till the day that the Jews crucified her Son.

I don’t know that I could live through my son’s life knowing that one day I had to give him up for the sake of the whole world. My son is mine and yet her Son is mine too. The absolute ache that accompanies the thought that my son would be put to death tears me up inside and for me it’s just a thought, for Mary it was reality. The chorus from the song makes me choke up to even contemplate what she was feeling;

I’m falling apart, I’m barely breathing
With a broken heart that’s still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I’m holdin’ on, I’m holdin’ on, I’m holdin’ on
I’m barely holdin’ on to you

In the end our children are gifts from God and no matter how much we love them and care for them they are His, they are just on loan to us.

Happy Mother’s Day!