Simeon's Sword: Mary Remembers

"Simeon said something about what Jesus was destined to do that I did not understand at the time. The words were spoken with hope, peace, and certainty, but then, with a sadness that had not been there before, he said, '...and a sword will pierce your soul, too.' I stood staring at the old man for a moment in disbelief. I realized that Simeon knew something that I had suspected all along. Somehow, my son was to suffer terrible things." As parents, we wish for our children such things as love, health, happiness, wisdom, and ultimately, independence. But how, really, must it have been for Mary, mother of Jesus? Consider the era, the stigma, the burden‹and consider the absolute faith that must have abided in Mary to embrace such an honor and a curse. The Reverend Alice E. W. Smith has pondered these thoughts for many years, as she has studied and portrayed Mary's life. As a young bride-to-be, how would Mary have reacted to the incredible news of her virginal conception--and what of her family, friends, and her "intended," Joseph? As a mother, how might she have handled the many wondrous events that took place in her young child's life, while trying to keep some semblance of normality? And how often did those words from Simeon chill Mary to her core? Much of the world's history is a direct result of the life of one man--Jesus Christ. Pastor Smith weaves an enchanting tale that gives the reader warmth, courage, and a different view of this age old story. She has helped illuminate the life of Jesus by telling it from the perspective of the one closest to him.