Mary's Parents

Anna and Joachim were the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  I figure that they must have been pretty good at parenting, and so they were declared saints.  Why might they have been good parents to Mary?  Well, by the time Mary was 12 she had the sense of self to take on a tough task and the ability to surrender at the same time.  Some women can surrender, but it is more of a giving in to keep the peace, or to take the seemingly easier road, or to hold the status quo.  Some women have a strong enough ego to say, "Yes, I can do this," in spite of hardships and the unknown.  But such women may not be very good at surrendering.  To have a "voice" a women needs the strong sense of self, of empowerment.  To deepen the spiritual life, she needs to surrender at some point along the way.  "Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord.  Be done to me according to your will," is what Mary said.  No wimp, this lady!