A few holidays that have great meaning to me; Mother’s Day is one of them. Father’s Day is important, but the male species has been given a bad rap, and sadly, too many men are willing to resemble the painted image.
A close personal relationship is about building intimacy with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The example often used—myself included—is that of a husband and wife. The open intimate relationship they share paints a wonderful image of a close personal relationship. This relationship is not about sex, but about the willingness to be vulnerable with someone else.
Since the garden sin, and humanity’s subsequent clothing, being naked in another’s presence is uncomfortable, even intimidating. There are exceptions to this of course; Hollywood has been quite successful in painting a different picture with perfectly toned bodies in sexually explicit scenes. The pornography industry makes a business of selling flesh, but this too is a perversion having nothing to do with intimacy.
These “filters” are present in life, and often must be passed through before finding the truth of a close personal relationship. It is a sad unpleasant fact, one that will always hinder humanity from entering into such a relationship with the godhead.
On the other hand, a mother and child often hold such an intimate relationship without sexual connotations. Jesus had such a relationship with his earthly mother, Mary. The Bible does not give details of this relationship, only glimpses. Mary hears the many things said about this baby, holding them close to her heart. When she discovers that her 12-year old son is missing, she immediately springs into action to find him. Upon finding him, the first words out of her mouth are panicked relief—“Don’t you know the agony you have put me through, wondering if you were all right?”
In one place in the Bible, Mary approaches Jesus with a problem at a wedding. The wedding party was nowhere near over, but the wine was all gone. Mary comes to Jesus to remedy the problem. She knows that her son can take care of this, and because of their close personal relationship, she is not afraid to ask him.
Movies about Jesus often include flashbacks where Mary is there when he skinned his knee, or as he built a table; they were close. They shared a close personal relationship. They were able to be intimate with the other, opening up about deep concerns of the heart.
In my own life, I shared such a relationship with my mother. She always believed in me, no matter what was going on. During difficult times, I would make my way to her side, knowing that comfort awaited by the words she spoke; I was never disappointed.
This is what makes a close personal relationship. Like any relationship, it is a journey, not an event. It takes time to build, and challenges and setbacks will arise, but the bond of love will be the glue holding everything in place.
So, this Mother’s Day is a great time to reflect on your relationship with your mother, (or as a mother, with your children). Think about the important times between you that had an impact on your life. If for some reason your relationship was/is not good, look to Mary and Jesus. Perhaps you can glean some encouragement to build a close personal relationship with your mom; or perhaps some insight into getting closer to Jesus.
Enjoy the day; be blessed, happy, and encouraged.