Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged- Proverbs 17:6
By Machelle McDowell
“I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4)
As grandparents, sometimes we take pride to an unhealthy level when it comes to our grandchildren. After all, Proverbs 17:6 says it well….”Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged.” AMEN!
They can give us a sense of enjoyment that is indescribable.
What if you were the grandparents of JESUS? How would you have handled that appointment??
The Bible does not speak much about Mary’s parents other than her father was from the tribe of Judah, (Luke 3:34).
It is speculated by tradition that her parents were saints and that her mother was barren for many years and blessed with Mary later in life. I don’t know if any of these statements are true, but something to consider?
I can’t help but wonder as a grandmother, “Was Mary’s mother aware of the strange encounter her daughter had with Gabriel?” “Was Mary’s mother even present in Mary’s life during this life altering event?” “Did Mary’s mother ever know that she was the earthly grandmother to the Messiah?” “Did Mary share any of it with her parents?” Nothing is ever mentioned about her family?
The (NLT) Luke 2:19 states simply that Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
So, did this mean she did not speak of them? Did this mean even before Jesus was born she kept all of what she experienced a secret? Did she ever share any of this with her family other than Elizabeth? So many questions.
I feel this couple, (Mary’s parents), deserve mentioning, even if they were kept anonymous in the Bible….. God chose their child to give birth to Jesus! Out of respect for Grandparents Support Club, LOL, I want to say, “Well done.”
I am sure there was much more to the story than was ever recorded when it came to Mary’s parents. God saw fit to keep it a mystery. Maybe, one of those stories we can hear about when we get to heaven? Lots of questions. We can begin with, “What did you do to become the grandparents of Jesus?” Right?
Mary must have possessed some of their traits as parents? And, if that is not enough reason to make mention of them, how about this one? Their grandson is Christ! Boo-yah!
Can you even imagine the family conversations around the dinner table? The emotional roller coaster that the entire family rode out as they lived through the (9) months of waiting and uncertainty. Was the whole town gossiping about the strange relationship between their daughter and Joseph?
Even if they were not aware of the supernatural aspect of the situation. They could not deny they had an unwed daughter expecting a baby. That in itself leaned toward cause of concern for their daughter’s future.
All of this is pure speculation, but fun to think about!
Was Mamaw Anna, (Possibly, was her name), filled with awe or pride? Did she use the Jesus card at the temple after his birth? “I am Jesus’ grandmother, I deserve to sit in the front of the temple.” Or did her parents present humility the way Mary demonstrated? Did they too treasure these things and ponder on them. Were they humbled by the fact that their child was the mother of the Messiah? Did they even know?
The popular song, “Mary Did you Know” is so beautiful as the lyrics bring to light questions Mary must have asked. Did she know that the child she would deliver would deliver her? Wow.
We could change the Title of that song to, “Mamaw (Anna?) Did you Know?” and the lyrics might ask, Did you know your grandson would heal the blind and the deaf and the lame would leap? The sleeping grandchild that you hold, ( if she did get to hold him), is “The Great I Am?”
There are a lot of uncertainties when it comes to Mary’s parents and what their role was in the big picture or if they even had a role?
If Mary’s parents knew and believed all that was to come to pass….they bring a new meaning to this verse, 3 John 1:4. “I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth.” Wow! Mary and Grandmother (Anna?) rejoice that their child/grandchild does not only walk in the truth but IS the truth!
A special message to grandparents all over the world, “the greatest gift we can give our grandchildren is Jesus…….and the greatest joy we can have in them is to know they are walking in the truth.”
Merry Christmas!