I had stopped in to order mass cards for Christmas. While I waited for a little nun to use her beautiful penmanship to personalize them, I browsed their tiny Catholic gift shop.
Lo and behold, I encountered a VERY pregnant statue of Our Lady. How beautiful and timely, given that it was only a few days before Christmas!
I'm sure the makers of the statue didn't intend to make Our Lady pregnant, but she was visibly prego to me!
Her tummy puffs out visibly, and all of her seems to swell happily with that glow of new life growing inside her.
I didn't have the money to buy her just then, so I asked if they could save her for me. This they agreed to, and I came back the next day, very excited to receive her!!
I wonder, sometimes, if Mary experienced the pains of labor while giving birth Jesus. As a little girl, I used to think that she didn't, since birth pains are the result of original sin, of which Mary was spared. But, as a result of a homily recently given by a priest I respect very much (Father O'Blaney), it makes sense that Mary, who lived as a real person in this world, would experience life just as we do, with all its pains and sufferings. We certainly know that she suffered, so she must have also endured all pains, and this probably included childbirth. Still, she must have had the patience of a saint, for she was one!
I hope that one day I am as lucky as Mary and have the opportunity to give birth to a new person. I hope that I will be patient with myself and the process of giving birth...and will endure all pains with great love!
