Celebration: Easter

As we reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, one thing is standing out to me this year, his mother.

The Bible tells us in John 19: 25 - 26:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Looking up at her son on the cross must have broken Mary’s, mother of Jesus, heart beyond comprehension. Although she understood His purpose and her part in His story, experiencing that purpose play out in such a gut wrenching way must have been difficult. No matter how great that purpose is, she lost her baby that day.

This passage reminds me that I do not own my son or his story. He is a unique individual, crafted by God, with his own destiny and purpose. As his mother, my calling is to nurture, teach, and guide him. A time will come when he no longer needs to lean on me as he does now and he’ll chart his own path and make his own choices.

Each day, I am learning to surrender my son to the purpose God has for his life, even when it stirs up  feelings of fear, uneasiness, or heartache. I find comfort in knowing that God’s plans for him are good and not of evil to give us a future and a hope.

How are you practicing surrender today?