Tuesday, April 26, 2011

She is Valuable

She is valuable. She is unique. She is precious. While she may wonder, she is always beautiful. She is God’s creation—a rare celebration of God’s heart. God formed her. God breathed life into her. God clothed her in the image of God. With every smile, laugh, and cry she blesses us. She offers us a rare glimpse of God. We celebrate her. God celebrates her. Whoever she might be, she is valuable.

On Easter Sunday we read Matthew 28:1-10. One of the most interesting aspects of this narrative is the role of women in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (more women are identified in Luke) are the first to return to Jesus’ tomb following the Sabbath. As they approach the tomb, an angel of the Lord appears. The angel testifies to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and then invites the women into the tomb to witness it for themselves. The angel sends forth the women to carry this message to the disciples. The women receive this responsibility and carry it with fear and great joy. During their return, though, Jesus Christ reveals himself to these women. Instantly, these women take his feet and begin to worship him. Jesus, then, instructs these women to carry the message to the disciples. Just as they had done before, the women receive this responsibility and carry it with fear and great joy. The responsibility and privilege of proclaiming the resurrection was given to a group of women. And, we celebrate these women for responding and carrying this message with fear and great joy.

She is unique, precious, and beautiful, but she is valuable for more than these reasons. She is valuable because she is capable. She is no different from the women in this narrative. She is capable of taking the feet of Jesus Christ. She is capable of worshipping Jesus Christ. And, she is capable of carrying the message of the resurrection with fear and great joy. She is valuable, because God values her. God formed her, God purposed her, and God works through her.

This Mother’s Day take a moment and celebrate the women in your life. Celebrate their value: they are unique, precious, and beautiful, but they are also capable. Whoever she is, God values her. God formed her, purposed her, and God is at work through her. Celebrate her, because she is a blessing. She is the only one capable of revealing God to you in this unique, precious, and beautiful way.