A dear friend of mine just started up a new website dealing with mentoring other mothers to become greater. This woman used to be my babysitter and has become a close friend. Todays lesson got my wheels churning so i thought i would share with you my thoughts and her website should you be interested in checking it out. http://www.mountaintopmentoring.com
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,
Blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. (Luke 1:39-56.)
Points to Ponder:
- Mary rejoiced in her Savior (Luke 1:47). How can we rejoice in the Savior? What great things has the Lord done for you?
- Mary magnified the Lord (Luke 1:46) by praising the Lord and helping others to see His greatness. How can we praise the Lord and help others to see His greatness?
- What good things has the Lord filled your life with?
- Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced in the great things the Lord did for each of them. How can we more fully recognize the greatness in others? How can we rejoice in others’ successes and avoid jealousy?
when i was pregnant with my second child my husbands family watched the movie The Nativity Story directed by Catherine Hardwicke. i was nervous, i am pretty careful what sources i watch representing anything about our Lord and Saviors story. But the movie was surprisingly beautiful.
i enjoy history and this movie encouraged me to look into jewish customs. According to http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7244-1,00.html “Betrothal was similar to engagement as we now know it, but it was much more binding. Once betrothed a couple was considered legally married, even though the marriage was not yet consummated.”
This historical fact has led me to understand Mary and Joseph in a completely different light. Rather than just envisioning them as super-righteous, almost perfect people who did as they were told and drifted into parenthood of The Perfect Person i realized they were people of strength.
Heavenly Father asked them to do something extremely hard. They had to wade through judgement from all their friends and family. I equate it like this: it is likely they lived in a town where everyone knew everyone. Everyone had traits, life-signatures if you will, to live up to; just like us. Mary was a beautiful, pure virgin in the eyes of the Lord, think of what she was like in the eyes of her peers! And Heavenly Father asked her to have a baby out of wedlock. i do not know how long from when she got pregnant to when she and joseph actually got married nor when she started showing. In our recent cultural heritage it was a scandal. then…no wonder joseph almost divorced mary; thinking she had been with another man.
i have come to view Mary as a woman of great personal strength. An example of malleable womanhood and meekness. But also as a person willing to do whatever God asked of her no matter the cost.
Thomas S Monson suggests to live greately we must have a vision of who we are and what we can become. I find as i have gratitude for who i am, what i am given and God’s plan for me it easier for me to be thrilled for others who receive things i want. As we look for and find in others their strengths we are protected from jealously. Not only can we live greatly as we gain a vision of who we are and what we can become but we live greatly when we see in others what they can become and love them as such.