Read: Luke 2:41-52
And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (v. 51)
“Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress” (v. 48). Believe me, that’s a lot more polite than I would have been if my adolescent child had left me for three days without telling me where he was going. Jesus’ teenage response almost makes it sound like his parents were at fault: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). Mary didn’t understand her son’s meaning, but she kept an open mind and “treasured up all these things in her heart” (v. 50).
There are only a few snippets of Scripture in which we see Mary’s interactions with her son, but she and Joseph showed an enlightened parenting. Mary seemed to realize that you don’t have to understand your child completely to love your child completely. She gave her child the last word in an argument and was able to open a discussion without closing it by saying something like, “Because I said so, that’s why!” It must have been strange to be parenting such an unusual child, and the way she treasured up her experiences with him indicates that she understood the difference. Mary chose to live with what she didn’t understand.
Mary’s example here for us is in listening to those in our lives who can offer us surprising wisdom, and treasuring that up for the future. How has that wisdom blessed you? —Lou Lotz
Today’s Activity: Name a bit of parental advice (or advice from a child!) that you have come to treasure. How has it helped you?
About the Author
Rev. Lou Lotz is a recently retired Reformed Church pastor. Lou and his wife Mary Jean live in Hudsonville, Michigan.
