Every Mother’s Day, we scramble to make sure we have cards or flowers for our moms in a futile attempt to thank them for everything they have done for us.

They are the women who raised us, gave us life, and stayed up with us all night when we were sick. Motherhood is incredibly trying and difficult, but every single day, mothers live up to the challenge.

The bond between mother and child is so fundamental it often transcends culture, country, even the span of generations.

Over 2,000 years ago there was another mother who was obedient to God and patient with His plan for her. She fully accepted her child with open arms. That woman was Mary, the mother of Jesus.

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She raised Him, picked Him up when He fell, took care of Him — all this for a child who was also God. But Mary had a struggle that not many mothers can understand. She knew His divine mission and the heartbreak that it would cause her.

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple when he was a newborn, as was the Jewish custom at the time, they met Simeon, who understood who Jesus was:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.'” (Luke 2:34-35)

From the time Jesus was born, Mary knew His mission would be difficult and she didn’t know at what point Jesus would leave their home and begin His public work. She knew who He was — but the rest of the world did not. At least, not yet.

She knew His divine mission and the heartbreak it would cause her.

But Mary’s strength and patience supported Jesus through His crucifixion and death on the cross — and that is where we come into the story.

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.'” (John 19:25-27)

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Jesus said very few things from the cross, but he did give us Mary. In those few short words, Jesus gave humanity a new mother and to mothers everywhere, a shining example of motherhood.

She looks over us from heaven, bringing our intentions, struggles, and prayers right to Jesus.

This Mother’s Day, remember to take a minute to reflect on the great gift that Jesus gave all of us — the divine love of Mary our mother.