Mary, I've got some questions for you!

When you become a mom you see the world through a whole new sleepy pair of eyes.The little things become more joyful, the simplest things become more precious and irritating things become more annoying. All of a sudden you can smell a specific poop from like 30 feet away, your automatic response when you notice you kid is going to vomit is catch it with your bare hands, and all you want is a second to yourself but when they are not around all you want is a second more with them.Becoming a mom changes everything.So naturally this time of year (and especially this year) my thoughts frequently float to Mary (the mother of Jesus) and all of a sudden I have SO many questions for her.So here's a taste of what I wonder;She was super pregnant and rode a donkey....like seriously. Most people of Mary and Joesph's class would travel by foot or on some sort of animal during the time period that Jesus was born so I guess a donkey is better then walking. Did she complain? Did they have to stop every 10 minutes because Mary had to pee? The trip was about 90 miles, would take about 5 days to walk and even longer if she really did ride a donkey, with my calculations that would mean about 6483 pee stops.She had the baby in a barn. a barn. I mean we complain now a days when the hospital doesn't have wifi - Mary gave birth in a barn. Was she scarred and stressed? Did she think she was going to give birth in the middle of the street? Was Joesph a typically man and forgot to make a reservation at the local motel? Did she get to that point in labor where we all have been - I don't care where, when or how just get this thing out of me!Did she instantly connect with baby Jesus? Was it that picture perfect moment we all see in movies and TV or was it the real life exhausted, scared, o my goodness I am now responsible for a life moment.Did Mary breastfeed? Did she have that day when your milk finally comes in and you feel like one of those crazy kid hose sprinklers that sprays everywhere and in every direction?Did baby Jesus sleep? Was Mary up all night every night? Was she so exhausted she didn't know up from down?Did she have one of those days when Joesph finally came home from work and it was that desperate "take him before I shake him" moment?Did Jesus go through the terrible twos? Did he refuse to go to sleep because he needed water, socks on, socks off, PJs changed, blanket fixed and teddy bears lined up (or is that just my two year old?)Did she have those crazy mom feelings of intense love and fear all in one swooping moment? Did she never want him to grow up? Did she make up excuses as to why he couldn't do something, did she long for a moment to herself, did she love him so stinkin' much sometimes she would cry?I don't have the answers to most of these questions but I do know this;John 1:14 tells us that the word (God) became flesh (Human) and moved into the neighbourhood. So Jesus was human just like you and me which means he was a two year just like my Maverick and a baby just like my Asher. So naturally that makes me believe that Mary went through all those crazy mom moments just like you and me.Put yourself in Mary's shoes. Imagine if you were the mother of Jesus, a virgin birth, the responsibility of raising the Messiah. Imagine the fears, doubts and worries she had. Imagine how many times she second guessed her decisions and wondered if she was doing the right thing.Just imagine.So fellow moms - people have been doing this for thousands of years, without some of the luxuries (pain control and iPads) that we have now. Moms have been worrying, loving, fearing and laughing their way through motherhood and, like Mary, trying to make things work.Now I know I am not raising a perfect kid (I am currently sitting in my bedroom listening to my two year repeat over and over "dark side" because he loves Star Wars so much and hates sleep just as much) but I do know how important my role as mom is.Did Mary know how important her role was and what impact she would have on the world 1000s of years later? Probably not. Did she know how important it was to be mom to her sweet baby boy? Absolutely.I don't know about you but I want to raise a kid who will change the world. I want to raise a kid her will love unconditionally, who will respect everyone he meets, who will open the car door for his girlfriend, who will want to see change in the world, who will never be afraid to do what's right and who is strong, humble and kind.I want to raise a kid to be like Jesus.This Christmas, remember Mary. Remember the simplicity of the Saviour's birth. Remembering how humbling it was for God to become flesh just to be with us and remember that we have the same responsibility as Mary to raise up our kids to change the world. (no pressure)Merry Christmas!