MOTHER’S DAY

White Ribbon, Volume 50, Issue 4, 18 May 1944, Page 1

MOTHER’S DAY

The Maiden Mother

THERE have been mother-hearted women all down the pages of history. Many of these have had children of their own. Others being denied such blessings have opened their hearts to take in all human-kind. As John Wesley said, “The world is my parish,” so these large-hearted women, of both classes, have said in effect, “The world is our family.” name of these is legion for they are many. It is necessary here to mention only a few who lived in comparatively recent years. For example, Florence Nightingale, who mothered our neglected (Timean and other soldiers; Mr*. Josephine Butler, who took her sad and sinning sisters into r heart and hef home, and for their sale faced hatred and danger to fight iniquitous laws made by n.en for men; Frances Wiliiard, whose clarion call against the liquor evil called into being the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Of these and many others it might he said, as the writer of Proverbs wrote long ago when featuring the perfect woman, “Many daughters have done virtuously,” But to one woman alone it can be said in a supreme fashion (as the verse concludes), “But thou hast excelled them all.” These latter words, of course, we apply to the mother to whom came

jov excelling al! joys, and who could also with bitter truth have said, “There is no sorrow like unto my sorrow” — Marv, the World-Redeemer’s mother.

Think of her wonder and joy at the Annunciation, and of her surpassingly beautiful ascription of praise on this great occasion. Imagine the horror of suspicion haunting her when Joseph, her espoused husband, “was minded to

put htr away'privily.” Think, of the mingled wondei and pain when lie, albiet tenderly, figuratively pushed her away from him, “Woman, what have I to do with thee, mine hour is not yet coine?” W hat did it all mean ? Surely the sword of which she had been warned was already piercing through her mother’s heart. But keener pain than ever before is Mary’s as she stands near the Cross until given by her Divine Son into the human care of His beloved disciple. Did she see Him shortly after His Resurrection as another Mary did?# We cannot but think so, and probably He appeared to her more than once during those “lovely -40 days” between His Resurrection and Ascension. If so, then surely although she was His mother according to the flesh. His word to lie**, as to the other Mary, was. “Touch Me not, for I have not yet ascended to My Father.” Thus His mother was taught to be His disciple, and as such she was found in that wonderful upper room, at Pentecost, and received into her heart and life, together with the Apostles and others gathered there, that “other Comforter” sent in the Lord’s stead for the guidance and enlightenment of all His loyal friends.