Mary is like a deep sea because if we immerse in her, we do get many things in each learning about her life. She is a wonderful example not only of a mother’s perfect love for her children but also of how we should aim to live our lives.
In our day-to-day life, we might have confused even the way of speaking. When we need some concrete examples of how to speak, act, and love each other, there’s no one better to turn to than Mary. Here are a few simple ways that we can be more like Mary this month.
1. Learn to Say Yes
Mary was qualified for everything with her “yes” to God. It was an affirmative charged with plenty of questions, but she gave her consent to God. And look what He did with her simple fiat.
Ask yourself what God might be asking for you to do, and then work on finding the courage to say “yes” to His will for you.
2. Learn to be Humble
Ever had someone asked you to do something really important for them? How did you feel? Maybe a little… proud?
But when God asked Mary through the angel Gabriel to be the mother of God, she didn’t get a puffed-up sense of herself. Nor did she try to convince God that she wasn’t good enough. She simply said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). That is true humility. True humility is seeking only to do God’s will.
Where is God asking us to be more humble in our lives? It might look like doing a terrible chore (cleaning the shower! doing dishes!) that no one else will notice, without mentioning it. It might look like keeping quiet when you want to defend yourself by speaking against someone else. It might just mean smiling when someone gives you a compliment and saying thank you.
Mary gave us an example of perfect humility. So turn to her when we struggle.
3. Share Your Happiness
The news of carrying the son of God is shared by Mary with Elizabeth. She left home to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was also expecting a baby boy. They embraced each other and shared the joy of the miracles taking place within them. Mary didn’t keep her joy to herself. She shared it with her friend.
Our family and friends are to share our joy with each other. Sometimes we can find it difficult to share in others’ joy when we’re hurting. Or we are hesitant to celebrate with others because we’re afraid they’ll think we are bragging about the good happening to us.
But to hide away our joy is to hide away the best parts of what makes us human. God made us to know both sorrow and joy and to experience both of those things in the community.
Mary is the perfect person to help us be courageous in sharing our joy.
4. Ask Boldly
When the wine ran out during the wedding feast at Cana, Mary went right to Jesus. She boldly said that Jesus could do something for the family.
Are we that confident in our prayer? Do we bring our troubles to Jesus and then leave them at His feet, believing that He’ll take care of them? Ask boldly about your needs to God. Even Mary was unaware of her Son’s powers as it was the first miracle done by Jesus. We know He had done many miracles even many times in our lives too. Then why are you hesitant to ask your needs to God?
5. Walk with Someone in their Pain
Mary was with Jesus in His time of rejection and pain. We might not be called to witness that kind of excruciating experience, but there are surely people in our own lives who are in crisis, who are struggling to get by, or who need someone to just sit with them in their suffering.
Christians are called to not turn away from suffering, not in ourselves, and not in those around us. Mary gives us the perfect example of a love that never turns away and never gives up. And also to walk with the pain of others.