Sisterhood

About a year and a half ago I got to go see my parents in Spain on their mission. One of the things we did while there was visit the Prado Museum, a very large and famous art museum in Madrid. This painting was displayed there, and I will forever remember my feelings as I sat and looked at it with my parents. I really believe there is something special about looking at original art created by the actual artist, especially centuries old art, that helps you see and feel the thoughts and emotions that go into a piece.

This painting is called ‘The Visitation’ by Raphael. It depicts Mary coming to visit Elisabeth after finding out she would be the mother of Jesus. Their story together is shared in only a few short verses in the first chapter of Luke from the Bible, but this painting depicts a much deeper relationship that probably did exist and meant so much to these two women. 

I can’t help but think what a tender mercy it was for Mary, when the same angel who told her she would be the mother of Christ, also told her that a woman she trusted and knew was also pregnant and going through a similar experience. It says in the scriptures Mary went ‘with haste’ to visit Elisabeth. Even something as glorious and beautiful as being the mother of the Son of God must have felt so overwhelming, and Mary had someone she could go to immediately to express and talk about those feelings. 

I love the tender look on Elisabeth’s face as she puts her arm around Mary. Elisabeth is older, she is wise, and has seen and experienced much more of life.  I’m sure Elisabeth had some good perspective and support to offer Mary as she took on this responsibility. I wonder if there were also the normal pregnancy talks between them, the kind I have had when I am pregnant with my sister. Sharing the struggles of pregnancy, but also sharing the joy and anticipation and beauty of carrying life inside you, together. 

Elisabeth isn’t usually thought of as part of the ‘Christmas’ story, but she is part of Mary’s story. She’s part of her ‘tribe’, to use a modern word many women like to use nowadays.  I wonder if there were times Mary looked back and thought, ‘I don’t know how I would have been able to do all that I did during that time without Elisabeth. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for putting her in my life at just the right time and letting us have that experience together.’

If I renamed this painting I would call it ‘Sisterhood’ or even ‘Relief Society’, because to me it encompasses so much of what that is…women finding comfort and solace in each other through the challenges, responsibilities, and wonderful blessings that life brings. This painting makes me think of all the women in my life who have been placed at just the right time to give me comfort, solace, and advice. Many times, it is women who have lived life a little more or have gone through what I am experiencing, and the comfort that comes from their love and counsel have certainly been tender mercies. I am thankful for the gift of ‘sisterhood’ and ‘Relief Society’ in my life and I hope I can be an ‘Elisabeth’ as much as I have also been a ‘Mary.’ I hope I can offer love and comfort as much as I have received it.

"We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young, and hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old...We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance. We need to renew our faith every day. We need to lock arms and help build the kingdom so that it will roll forth and fill the whole earth." --Marjorie Pay Hinckley