- BY ADMIN
- 28 JANUARY, 2020
Hannah: A living Role of a Traditional Graceful Mother
Hannah’s name signifies grace. Being the mother of a blessed child Mary, Hannah has a great responsibility to raise an obedient, humble, respectful sensible, and faithful daughter. Her life portrays her as the classic profile of a godly mother. Consequently, she became a living emblem of the grace of motherhood. She married Joachim, and they shared a devout life at Nazareth.
The historical religious fiction, I Am Only Mary written by Thomas Atzberger explores the culture of the times during the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The early chapters of the book introduce us to various traditions and roles of traditional families. Women followed the traditional feminine role of a mother who spends her time rearing and looking after their kids. They also play a vital role in the character-building, cognitive, and emotional development of their children.
The book showed that women were engaged in different domestic works such as going to the market to buy groceries, vegetables, meat, and spices. Finding water, making the daily bread, and preparing the midday meal. The ladies after arranging the midday meal were engaged with other household chores that include cleaning, sweeping, and feeding the family members.
According to Hannah, motherhood is a challenging responsibility. From marriage to childbirth and rearing the children, mothers experience different situations. Hannah believes that she can bear every experience of life with strength and patience. She hopes that she becomes the perfect role model for her daughter, Mary.
While visiting the village market to purchase daily groceries, Hannah spoke to her friend Esther, accompanying her, “I remember how my mother taught me the tasks of womanhood, of caring for the house, of tending to the children, and of caring for the husbands who may suffer in the daily commerce of the village. I love teaching Mary these things.”
Hannah being a responsive mother is aware of her daughter’s emotional and physical needs and responds appropriately. When Mary was a little child, she asked her mother about the water well and how the water gets into the waterhole. She contemplated the question and respond sensibly to satisfy her daughter’s curiosity.
Hannah rendered all household responsibilities in a well-organized manner. While performing her domestic tasks, she feed her little daughter and also encouraged her to assist in the house works such as helping her grind the grains and seeds by using a sharpening stone called a grinding stone. As a responsible wife, she understands the temperament of her husband and manages everything accordingly.
Hannah, a conventional mother fully apprehends the individual developmental and temperamental changes that took place as Mary reached her adulthood. She showed more concern about Mary’s betrothal. She discussed this with her husband who approached Aaron and his son Joseph. A loving mother her heart filled with joy, and contentment and she excitedly began preparing for the wedding. When Mary described the vision of the Holy Spirit, she at first became bewildered. Being a mature and experienced woman, she managed to cope with this traumatic situation that might disturb the relations between the two families. She encouraged and supported her daughter.
As she stated, “I must believe you if you tell me it is true. I will put my trust in you, and pray, and take each day as it comes.”
About The Book
Reading the book will help you know the pious role of Mary. The narrative fiction I Am Only Mary by Thomas W. Atzberger makes Mary accessible to us as a fellow Christian, emphasizing her humanity and her virtuous living of the call God gave to her. Mary, being a righteous and angelic adolescent showed her obedience and love for God by surrendering herself to God’s command.
The book reveals Mary’s life and character elements we rarely know about. The stimulating historical narrative has depicted the true character of Mary. The story explains the Jewish culture, people were affectionate and had warm interpersonal relationships with each other.
The book depicts different stages of Mary’s growth from childhood to adulthood when Mary’s Annunciation took place by the Angel Gabriel. Mary’s betrothal process with Joseph was planned. When she received a vision from The Holy Spirit that Mary will conceive and bear a holy child. Mary plan to visit her relative Elizabeth who was also expecting a child in old age.
Readers learn about Jewish rituals performed by Jewish families after the birth of the child. The end of the book aroused emotional feelings in readers as Mary departed after spending her best time with Elizabeth. Mary began her journey back home, she felt more confident and strong to execute the big responsibilities ahead. She courageously lived out her life, day to day, fulfilling her role as a caring and loving wife, and, ultimately, looking forward to the birth of her child.
This book is a must-read. The religious fiction, I Am Only Mary is available on different online platforms. Anyone who has a keen interest in knowing about the probable details of Mary’s journey will find narrative fiction more appealing. Since the history and biography about Mary are hardly available, reading this prose meditation brings us close to her.
About the Author
Thomas Atzberger is a retired lawyer from Columbus, Ohio. He completed three years of college-level studies in a Catholic seminary before earning degrees from John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Thomas is an attorney by training and is a supervisor of stockbrokers. He has been married to his wife Christina since 1970, with three adult children. The inspiration to compile this amazing work comes from Thomas's life experience as a husband, father, uncle, neighbor, and relative of many in his extended family. His earnest feelings are that we should follow virtuous living like Mary and practice religious acts that work out our salvation. Thomas Atzberger aims to make Mary’s biography more interesting for the readers.