“My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46)

As I write this devotion, it is Mother’s Day in the US. Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts and women who are “spiritual mothers” are honored by daughters and sons. It is a day where we recognize the contribution of mothers in our lives with flowers, candy and/or a special meal or activity. Sometimes, a present to mom is a day dedicated to serving them—doing the dishes, or as one of my daughters says, “scrubbing the toilets.” This is her least favorite household chore.

The day can be joyous for some and painful for others. Mother’s Day can be a time to grieve the death of our mothers and grandmothers. For others, the day accentuates the pain woman experience who have been unable to conceive. There can also be despair of broken relationships between mothers and children highlighted in the unrealistic expectation of perfect relationships among perfect people.

There has only been one perfect mother—Mary, Jesus’ mother—the Mother of God. She is the only person who truly exemplified God’s perfect motherly love.  

Here is a list AI put together from multiple sources:

• Radical Trust & Acceptance: When faced with the unexpected, Mary replied, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38). She teaches mothers to embrace the unknown, overcome fear, and trust God’s plan for their children.

• Active Presence & Compassion: Mary did not abandon Jesus during his Passion. She reminds mothers to stand with their children during difficult times, offering presence and compassion, even when they cannot “fix” the situation.

• Nurturing Faith & Obedience: Mary raised Jesus in faith, encouraging him to follow God’s will. She shows the importance of passing on spiritual values and guiding children toward a relationship with God.

• Letting Go & Surrender: At the cross, Mary learned to let go of her son, entrusting him fully to the Father. This teaches that motherhood involves releasing control and trusting God’s ultimate purpose.

• Patience & Humility: She models how to respond to the frustrations of parenting with grace, apologizing when needed and putting the need of children before her own.

Whatever your experience is or the relationship you have with your mother or your children, both biological and spiritual, we can learn a lot from Mary about God’s perfect love. Through the Father’s love, grace, and mercy we can proclaim, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for her has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” (Luke 1:46-47)