Mary requires no introduction. She was the mother of Jesus Christ. And she is possibly the most famous woman that ever lived. Today Mary has as many followers as Jesus Christ. This article highlights the leadership lessons garnered from a study of her life. She was a great woman who made great sacrifices to birth the saviour. She almost lost her marriage, her reputation was tarnished and of course, she suffered the heartache of watching her son die. Her life was no walk in the park. She was a phenomenal woman who partnered with God to birth His plan and purpose on the earth. Mary’s life indicates that when God gives a vision, only a partnership with God can bring it to pass.
The Leadership Lessons from the Life of Mary Are as Follows;
- Great women are enough. And great women understand that they are enough. Mary was enough to birth her purpose. She didn’t require a husband. You are enough. Quit waiting for a husband to show up and start birthing your purpose.
- Great women ask great questions. Mary did not doubt the message or messenger from God, but she needed clarification. She sought to understand, hence her question, “how shall this be seeing that I know not a man?” Great people seek to understand, and they do not dismiss anything rather they ask questions that help them understand everything.
- Great women celebrate with others. Mary heard from Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived in her old age and as soon as Gabriel departed, she visited Elizabeth to rejoice with her. She put everything on hold to spend time with Elizabeth. Great women are selfless and make time for others.
- Great women stay humble. Mary was the mother of the Messiah but went to see Elizabeth. She didn’t sit at home waiting for Elizabeth to come and pay homage. As the saviour’s mother, Elizabeth should have made the trip to visit Mary. So, when Mary travelled to see her, it was a display of humility.
- Great women know the power of silence. They are doers and not talkers. Mary did not talk a lot. She did not go all over the village announcing that she had seen an angel and was pregnant with the saviour of the world. When the wise men visited her and the young child, she considered their words in silence. She did not respond to their comments. You don’t have to have an answer for everyone that has something to say to you. Stop talking and start doing. Every time you talk, you expend your energy, and you are unable to take action.
- Great women are deep thinkers. Mary considered things in her heart. She thought deeply about everything that happened to her, from the moment, the angel greeted her. You need to cultivate the habit of thinking. Those who think, are never stranded. They always know what to do, and succeed at what they do.
- Great women make sacrifices. When Mary decided to do God’s will, she was making a huge sacrifice. She was sacrificing her marriage to Joseph and of course her reputation.
- Great women endure hardship for a great cause. Mary endured shame to birth the saviour of the world. Many did not understand the concept of her getting pregnant and put it down to fornication. Her reputation was tarnished so that the world could be saved.
- Great women get involved in a cause bigger than themselves. Mary’s consent to become a vessel through which the Messiah of the world would be born was a cause bigger than her and one which would not just benefit her and those close to her but the entire world. If all you strive for is for your benefit or the benefit of those closest to you, greatness is still far from you.
- Great women are willing to serve. Mary could have refused the assignment God was giving her, but she did not. She wanted to serve. She said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord let it be done to me as He wills” (paraphrased). She was willing to serve, and service led to her greatness. Today, Mary has as many followers as Jesus Himself. It came to her on the platform of service. Who are you serving? Great women serve and small women wait to be served.
- Great women do not allow fear to stop them. Mary was about to do something that no one before her had done. Naturally, she would have been afraid; afraid of what people would say, afraid of how they would view her going forward, afraid that she would be stoned to death, afraid that Joseph would put her away. But she let none of her fears stop her and yielded herself as an instrument in bringing forth the saviour of the world.
