As a mom, I feel like such a mother hen sometimes.  I find myself being over protective in different situations.  When my kids are jumping on the trampoline and one of the bigger kids in the neighborhood are a little to rough, I go out and set things straight.  When a teacher thinks my kids might not be up to par on their "level", my defensive mode sets in.  If I see one of them about to get hurt, my husband would tell you I over-react a bit with the shrill of my scream.  When they are sick, I feel so helpless and want to do everything I can to comfort them. 
I don't think I am anything out of the ordinary.  I'm sure a majority of moms are the same way.   In realizing that, I think about one mom and can't even begin to imagine what she went through many years ago.  You see, it was about this time of year and I can assure you she was not dying Easter eggs, getting Easter baskets ready, nor was she picking out the best Easter suit for her son.  Instead she was having to stand by and watch her son be stripped down to just a cloth.  She had to watch him be beaten and bruised, spat upon and called names.  She had to watch him carry a heavy, rugged cross on top of the whipped stripes on his body.  She had to watch his hands and feet being nailed to this cross as soldiers just laughed and continued to make fun of Him.  She had to watch as they raised up this cross and dropped it down into the ground as it jolted his whole body.  She watched as her son, in the midst of His agony, still was pleading on the behalf of the criminal hanging beside Him.  She had to sit at the foot of this cross in her own puddle of tears and just wait for her son to die.  This, my friend, is something that I cannot even fathom.  My eyes swell with tears just thinking about how excruciating this must have been.  Letting my son die for the sin of other people is something I just don't think I could do. 
When Mary found out that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, I'm sure she had no idea what to expect, but I bet she didn't envision this.  I doubt she could fully grasp the magnitude of what her son was doing.  She knew that her son had the power to speak just but one word and it could have all been stopped.  But she realized, for some reason, it had to be done. 
That reason was for you and for me.  Jesus' death on that cross was to endure our sins so that He could offer us the gift of grace and abundant life.  He bore our sins of pride, indulgence, sexual impurities, lies, hate, unforgiveness, deceit, murder, theft, idolatry, greed, lust, gossip...the list goes on and on.  He forgave you that day for any sin that you would ever commit and His will is for you to receive that forgiveness. 
I'm sure Mary would tell you that was the worst day of her life, but the best day of her life came only three days later when she realized her son had risen from the dead!
There's an old song that says, "He's alive!  He's alive!  He's alive and I'm forgiven, heavens' gates are opened wide!"  Now my tears are tears of joy!  Joyful that I have a Savior that loves me with an unconditional love and forgives me for all of my fleshly weaknesses.  Joyful that I have a Savior who would endure such a gruesome death in order for me to have a life of grace,hope, and peace.  I am so sorry that His mother had to witness such a horrific experience, but I pray that the salvation of my life and yours will make it worth it for her.
Thank You Jesus for dying on that old rugged cross for me!  Now, from one mom to another, thank you Mary for allowing the ultimate sacrifice.
Praise God!  Jesus is alive today and still on His throne!  If you have never experienced the love of the One who died just for you, don't wait another minute!  He's been waiting for you with open arms and wants to give you abundant life today!!!

Today Ciera began laying her head on Eli and Carmen's shoulder as they were carrying her around.  They were ecstatic.  They felt so loved and like such big brothers and sisters!
As I looked on in these very precious moments the thought came to me of how Jesus must feel when we finally come to Him and just lay our heads on His shoulder.
For some you may think, "How can you lay your head on someone's shoulder that you can't even see?"  Well, let me tell you my friend so that you may be comforted today.
When you lay your head on someone's shoulder you:

Trust them with your joys your pains.  There may be tears of joy or tears of pain that have trickled down one's arm as you've rested your head upon their shoulder. 
Psalm 30 :11 says, "You changed my sorrow into dancing.  You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness." (NCV)  why not rest your head on the One who will exchange your sorrow for joy and dancing?

Depend on them for support.    Maybe you are exhausted...ready to give up.  Maybe you feel as though this race called life will never end and when it does...to what avail?
Hebrews 12:1-3 "...So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.  We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.  Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect.  He suffered death on the cross.  But He accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before Him.  And now He is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Think about Jesus' example.  He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him.  so do not get tired and stop trying!"  (NCV)
I can assure you that I have had many a day wondering if I could even lift my head from my pillow and yet I have never even remotely endured what my Savior did for me on the cross.  Jesus promises that when we are weak, He is strong, so rest your weary head my friend!

Rely on them to handle you with care.  Ciera knows that her big brother and sister are going to hold her with tender loving care.  She snuggles up in their arms and casts her every care on them.  She is comfortable and very peaceful.  This blesses not only her, but if you could see the smiles on Eli and Carmen's faces as they are holding her, you would see that they are blessed even more!

This is just how our precious Lord is with us.  When we love Him enough to place all of our trust, dependence and reliance on Him, He feels us resting our heads on His shoulder and I can assure you that His big ol' cheese grin is just as big as Eli and Carmen's!  Let your Saviour love on you today...."cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you!!!"