His Mother kept all these words in her heart. As she went home she was pondering and meditating again. She had no need to make a "_Composition of Place_," as she had to do a few hours ago, for her Boy was at her side once again; it was upon His words that she was meditating. They had made her realise that He was a man now, that He would have "business" to do that she must no longer expect wholly to understand. No doubt she prepared herself in her meditation to be ready from henceforth to find that His sweet, childish, obedience was over. Just as we, in our meditations, make the sacrifice beforehand about something that we dread, and then when we come up to it during the day, it is not there! But GOD is pleased, nevertheless, that we made our sacrifice. One of the many uses of meditation is that we may be fore-armed for the day's battles. So it was with Mary. When she got back to Nazareth, it is true that there was a change; it is true that the boyhood of her Son was fast passing into manhood; but His subjection was the same--only it was far more touching to His Mother's heart just because He was no longer a child. And what was Mary's part? If JESUS was "subject," Mary had to command; if JESUS obeyed, it was because Mary gave her orders--and this till He was thirty years old! What an absolute repression of self and of her own ideas there must have been in Mary before she could bring herself to give an order to Him Whom she was worshipping as her GOD! With what reverence, and honour, and humility, and searchings of heart, and preparation, and care she would give her orders! Only the knowledge that it was His wish that she should stand in GOD'S place to Him, could have given her courage. Her authority over Him was GOD'S authority, and it was only by constantly referring it to GOD that she dared to maintain it. What a lesson Mary gives here to parents and superiors and to all whose duty it is to command others! Whether they have to command the unruly and the unsubmissive, or those whom they know to be in every way superior to themselves, a few thoughts suggested by the contemplation of Mary commanding her Son at Nazareth may help to make easier a position which must often be irksome and difficult:-- 1. GOD has put me into this position because He intends me to be His delegate. 2. My orders are all given in His Name, and all my authority refers back to Him. 3. My only sure weapons are--_humility_, that is, a real belief in my own weakness; and _self-effacement_, to the extent of letting those who are under me see, not me, but GOD, in my orders.