..but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  John 19:25

As Jesus hung on the cross, his mother stood at the foot of the cross.

She wasn't flailing and wailing. She wasn't fainting and falling out. She was standing.

I marvel at her strength in a very dark hour. She'd been there in His glory as He performed miracles. She also stood watching her son dying on the cross as the will of God was taking place. 

What a model of unwavering strength and faith! May we all learn to stand firmly like Mary through the trials of our own lives.

"Strong women. May we know them. May we raise them. May we be them."

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One last thing: I wrote a guest post titled When Faith Flounders for Val's 40 Days of Faith series on her blog Living My Faith. You can find it here.