An Advent Devotional by Kathleen Schwartz December 10 - A Mother’s heart

The Gospel of Luke has the longest account of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus.  Tradition is that the Physician Luke talked to Mary, the mother of Jesus, to learn about all that happened.  So in Luke we have the perspective of a doctor and the heart of a mother in the recounting of the story.

We recently had a discussion at a school staff meeting about what it is like to be raised in a home where you are not the birth child, but a niece or nephew or other relative of the parents.  One of our teachers, an orphan growing up, was raised with an aunt and uncle who had 4 other children.  She was quite firm in stating that you are treated different when they aren’t your “real” parents.  Other teachers are taking care of children (relatives) in their homes and they expressed their feelings.

I have my own perspective.  We have 4 children that I labored at their birth, and we have 2 adopted children where I wasn’t even present at the birth.  I can say that in my case, there is no difference in how I feel about them.  They are all my children.

Now I live in a Village with 42 children who call me “Auntie Kathleen,” and there are 150 other children at school who call me “Auntie Kathleen.”  In planning for and developing the school, my desire is that children who come receive the same kind of education I would want for my own children and grandchildren. 

To me this is about

love – love for these gifts from God in these beautiful children

                  hope – hope for their future, that they become all that God has created them to be

                  faith – that God is at work in this place to rescue, provide for, and disciple his children.

We can imagine what Mary was like and the love she felt for Jesus as his mother.  But God can give us that same love for those around us, and even across the globe.

Dear Lord,  Thank you for coming in human form, born of a woman, and loved by a mother.  Give all of us a deep love for those around us, particularly children in our world who are hurting and in need of your caring love.  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Sena holding Brenda's baby.