"The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him."
                                                                    Luke 2:40

Our youngest son turns seventeen tomorrow. It seems old to me somehow,though I know that it is not. He was born in a winter similar to the way this one has begun…..cold and snowy with promise of more to come. On his first Christmas Eve, only three weeks old, I remember bundling him up to take him to church and the temperature was fifteen degrees below zero. We accomplished this feat so we could see his three year old brother don wings and a halo as an angel in the Christmas pageant. It was a magical Christmas…..to hold a newborn baby while listening to the story of the birth of Jesus. That year I felt closer to Mary than ever before…….much older but closer.

That Christmas season had its own built in Sabbath time cycle….all driven by the needs of this small wonder. I had excuses to rest, to simply sit and enjoy, to sleep when needed, eat when hungry, revel in the beauty of it all. It was, I know, a privilege. I had the resources, both financial and human, to simply be present to what was needed. I think of all those mothers, young and old, who struggle in so many ways  to offer what is needed to their children and offer up a prayer and blessing for them. In truth, they have much more in common with Mary than I ever had or will have.

But the one thing we share…all mothers, all parents, throughout time…is the sheer gift of being present to the unfolding of a person in your midst. To watch them grow, to see their awe and delight in being new to this amazing world. To see their interests develop, glimpse their future passions, encourage their commitments. And of course we must also witness their failures and challenges, their heartache, their pain and have it become our own.

As we celebrate tomorrow, we celebrate all of it…..and the joy of what is yet to be for this wonderful young man. Once again, I know I am privileged…and blessed….like all the mothers before me and after me.

"His  mother treasured all these things in her heart."  Luke 2:51

Have a warm and safe weekend………