Joanna Who?

In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs.  Mark 15:41a (NIV)

One woman gave birth to Jesus.  However, in a way, Jesus had many mothers.  

There were Mary and Mary (not to be confused with Joseph's wife, Mary); Mary, the mother of Joseph (not to be confused with the carpenter);  and other women not named Mary, such as Salome and Joanna.  Mark (not to be confused with me) indicates that those women cared for Jesus' needs.  That is what loving mothers do.

I do not know the nature of all of Jesus' needs.  Nevertheless, I imagine the Marys Three (plus the others) tending to Him by . . .

- providing money for His journeys
- patching His robes when they needed mending
- washing His robes when they needed cleaning
- washing His feet (that one's in the Bible)
- offering Him a place to catch a nap
- sticking a "hang in there" note in His lunch
- praying for Him

And, finally, assuring that He received a respectful burial.  Only the last one was not needed.  As we celebrated just a couple of weeks ago, Jesus rose!  While their tending to His body was not needed, it was truly motherly.

While some of the women who tended to Him earn more mention in the gospel writing; others, like Joanna, do not.  That is really how it goes - isn't it?  Some people's story continues to be told, while others' accounts remain footnotes in history. 

Oh, but what powerful footnotes!
 

Women like Joanna loved, through action, the Lord Jesus.  

On this week preceding Mother's Day, I started to write about a mother of renown whose story history knows.  I thought better of it however.  Instead, I chose to write a tribute to all moms whose actions will earn a footnote or less.  They . . .

- provide love to their children
- stick notes in lunches
- wash jeans (rather than robes)
- place Band-aids on knees
- earn wages to provide for their living legacies
- make beds where little heads lie
- pray for their daughters and sons

To all of you - Thank you!
Whether history remembers you or not, you are caring for needs.  That makes Jesus happy.

#ordinarylives