But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:40-43)

    There is something magical, yet also something very mundane about this encounter with Jesus and a little girl.

    The miracle is simply magical. This is a moment of despair that is suddenly transformed into the promise of joy and hope; it is touched with all that is holy, mysterious, and beyond us. That we have the very Aramaic words of Jesus is powerful. "Talitha koum!" Jesus says to the dead little girl.

    On the other hand, Jesus' command that her parents give her something to eat is so very practical — this is not their imagination, she is real, and walking around and hungry. After all, the little girl has been sick. In fact, she was dead; now she needs to regain her strength, so somebody better get her something to eat.

    In a way, this story is every mother's story — they witness the miracles of God at work in their children, while everyone else is on the outside looking in. They can't see the miracles, only the ordinary. But mom sees!

    For moms, there are some moments that are simply magical! Like Mary, they store up these moments in their hearts. Some they share. Some they keep to themselves. All of them are cherished. Those outside can only see the limitations and predictable realities that bind a child to mediocrity and sameness, but a mother sees the miraculous as well as the mundane. It's not that she is blind to the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of her child, it's just that a mom sees the potential and the positives in her child's life. But clearly, on their darkest days, she also sees that child's weaknesses and wounds and she will all that she can to sooth, comfort, and support her child.

    Jesus' mother balanced the same pressures. Expecting great things of her son, knowing Jesus' promise and potential, she ordered the wedding servants to "Do whatever he commands of you!" Yet later in Jesus' ministry, when he couldn't eat for the crowd and was spending all of his energy on strangers, you know she had to join with her children and say, "I fear he has gone crazy with the stress and the pressure of the crowds. He won't even eat!" Such is a mother's constant tug-of-war; she sees the positives and feels the wounds of her child. She knows the potential and yet worries about the weaknesses that can destroy.

    A mom quite often finds herself astonished at what God can do with little human piles of dust. The Father of all shares his breath of life with a lump of dust, and suddenly she is given an amazing and remarkable child. This child is precious. Full of wonderful and marvelous things that only a mom gets to see.

Thank you for all that you have done to bless your children and to point them toward God.

    Yet like all children, this child is also limited in certain ways! Sometimes life takes a toll on her precious one. So she trusts that God can do even greater things than she can ask or imagine, overcoming the limitations and failures, while magnifying what is precious and holy. So as a mom, in those worst moments she still looks for the miracles. Sometimes that's all that keeps her going — hanging on and hoping for that miracle to come to her child. Like Mary at the tomb at sunrise on the third day, she trudges on doing the right thing, while hoping against hope that God will surprise her child and awaken the slumbering miracle inside.

    So what word of encouragement and grace do we give to real world moms?

    First, we say "Thank you!" Thank you for all that you have done to bless your children and to point them toward God. Thank you for your sacrifices, your prayers, your patience, and your loving kindness. (Proverbs 31:28-31)

    Second, hang on for our miracle. As Churchill kept saying to Great Britain in the dark night of the bombing during World War II, "Never, never, never... give up!" If things are going well, then pray for God to make them better! Ask him to use your child for His glory. Ask him to do "more than you can ask or imagine" through the good influence of your child. If "things aren't so good," then hang on for all you're worth, trusting that the miracle will come. God will never give up on your child and you mustn't. He has a purpose for them and will work toward that purpose. Sometimes your love must be tough, but never give up that God will use your prayerful efforts to help reach the heart of your child and give that child an opportunity to turn and go in the direction of His grace and glory. (Philippians 2:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 3:20-21)

    Third, never loosen your hold on your hope. No matter what happens or how difficult things can become, when mother and child are united in the Lord, there is always the promise for reunion in their future! The longest part of your life's journey will be shared in loving fellowship with your child if you are both joined in faith to the Lord! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Romans 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 15)

    Finally, realize that God is using you to mold children for eternity. Your life truly matters. Your impact lasts forever. Don't ever underestimate your importance to the work of God and to the good of the Kingdom. God will use your efforts to His glory and make a difference whether you ever get to see the fullness of that gift or not.

    Thank you mom, for being available to God for His service, for His children, and for His glory. Make God make you a mother who gets to see His miracles in your children!

 

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Title: "Mother to Miracles"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: May 11, 2003