Mark 6:54-56
“54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him…
55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”
Maybe it’s because I’m in the thick of seven children, ages 19 down to 7 months, but I can see that Jesus understood exactly how it feels to be a mother. The people came straightway, meaning as soon as they saw his ship, they were onto him like bees to honey. And then they ran and told everyone to bring all their sick because look, He’s here, and He will heal them.
Have you, to some degree, felt like that as a mother? Maybe not greeting all the sick, but feeling like someone is always needing you or touching you, wanting to be made whole, or at least get their homework question answered or school paper signed. Women complain about not even being able to go to the bathroom when they need to. This is an absolute truth, and has been for almost 20 years at least for me. Jesus knew how it felt to have people throng Him but not for His message, for His healing power. Imagine the energy it took for Him to do that amount of healing, and yet you don’t hear in the scriptures of someone coming up and saying, Sit down, take a rest, I’ll come back tomorrow. No, it seems everyone wanted what they wanted, when they wanted it, without considering how the Healing Source was doing.
Sometimes mothers feel like that, if not a little used and taken advantage of—the cooking, cleaning, washing, and carpooling that is typically regarded as expected rather than appreciated. So on those particular days when children’s gratitude seems scarce and society’s expectations high, remember that He gets it. He knows how that feels, and He relied on His Father to help provide the energy to do it. So can we.
Just for today, appreciate how the Savior gave and served without price or complaint, and looked to spiritual renewal in order to achieve it.
Merry Christmas,
Connie
