Mary the Mother of Jesus: Humble & Slow to speak/Quick to Listen

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” -James 1:19 NIV

 How can we not consider Mary, the mother of Jesus?  She must have possessed some especially godly qualities to be chosen to be the mother of the Son of God; the Messiah.

  Many researchers say that Mary was only around 14 when she had Jesus. Can you imagine being so young a mother?  Of course, back then 14 wasn’t the same as it is today here in our culture.

  One of the key things Mary possessed was humility.  She would have had to, to not become puffed up about being chosen for such a great calling.  We know from Luke 1:48 that Mary was not some prominent woman, but lowly; “Nothing special” some would say.

  Mary, like all godly women, trusted God and took Him at His word.  When the angel Gabriel told her what was going to happen, she simply replied, “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.” (Luke 1:38)  She never doubted God would perform what He said.  She simply accepted it.

  Another very important thing I noticed about Mary is that she weighed every word spoken to her concerning Jesus & didn’t blurt out her emotions.  No, she was not quick to speak, but was an excellent listener.  Luke 1:29 says that when the angel Gabriel greeted her, “…when she saw him, she was greatly troubled & disturbed & confused at what he said & kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.”  She pondered & kept going over the angel’s words over & over again, to make sense of it all.  A lot of us would have blurted out some unnecessary response like, “What’s this all about?” or “Why me?”  or “What do you mean?”,  yet she simply was silent with her thoughts, not wasting her words.

  Yet again, we see her doing this same kind of thing in Luke 2:15-19 when the shepherds came to meet Jesus, and told them what the angel had said about Him.  The Bible says in verse 18, “And all who heard it were astounded & marveled at what the shepherds told them.”  I like this: Verse 19 says, “But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing & pondering them in her heart.”

  The Bible says that we’re to be “slow to speak & quick to listen” & Mary showed us this principle.

  When God speaks something over our child, do we constantly question Him?  Doubt Him?  Or like Mary, do we simply ponder the words spoken, meditate on them and use our words sparingly?

  Time doesn’t permit me to go on about how Mary was brave, wise & faithful, but she definitely was all of those things!

  May we trust in God more & ponder the promises He’s given us; the words He’s spoken over our child, instead of doubting Him & fretting about these things.  May we daily walk in humility more & more as we seek God & His will for our lives & the lives of our family.