A Heart like Mary.

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. Luke 2:41:45

Could you imagine being the Parents of the Son of God..and realizing that, after traveling for an entire day from the festival of Passover, you couldn't find him? 
Imagine walking a solid day through heat, mosquito's, steep hills and rough terrain.
And
I'm no bible scholar but I would guarantee the streets of Jerusalem were jam packed with people and livestock, during the festival so it probably created some heavy traffic through these areas which only made the trip more challenging.
From what I understand this trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem was a 3-3 1/2 day journey (64 miles) and that's just one way! 
Imagine getting 1/3 of the way home and having to turn around because you couldn't find the Son of God! 
I'm sure Mary was in sheer panic mode!

⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mothersaid to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Luke 2:46-48

I love that Mary reacts the way every mother would- After the panic wears off the anger sets in! She wants to know why he did that to them? Why didn't he tell them he was staying behind? Didn't he know they would be panicked and that they would be anxiously searching for him?

I love how Jesus responds.

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[f]50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Luke 2:49-50

Didn't Mary know that his relationship with his heavenly father was important. I love how he gently tells Mary that he was doing what God wanted him to do and that they must entrust him to his heavenly Father. 

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:51-52

I also love how Mary responded to Jesus after this. It says she treasured these things in her heart. Which means she wondered about them and pondered them. Meaning she learned from her son, Jesus. 

I love how this translates to modern day parenting.

I was thinking about how Ellie Kate and Jude are growing so fast and someday they will become adults. My prayer for them is that they follow God's calling, seek Him, and listen to His voice. 
Although I, like Mary, may not always understand that calling I pray that I will not discourage them, but encourage them. 
I pray that like Mary, I will keep an open mind and heart to learn from the things that God is teaching them.
My prayer this morning is that I have a heart like Mary for my children.