Showing Mary: How Women Can Share Prayers, Wisdom, and the Blessings of God

by Renita J. Weems

Reverend Renita J. Weems draws upon two prayers from the Book of Luke, examining the relationship between Mary and her older cousin to reveal the important effect mentoring has on the lives of women. The story of a young pregnant Virgin Mary visiting her older pregnant cousin Elizabeth, told in Luke 1:39-56, is one of the most profound examples in the Bible of an empowered mentoring relationship between women. Drawing upon the Hail Mary and The Magnificat 9rayers, SHOWING MARY retells this touching story, revealing how both mentor and protg use their respective gifts and energies to support ach other. This relationship is then applied to modern life, emphasizing the importance of women mentoring women, nurturing each others dreams, sharing wisdom and experiences, and building networks of mutually rewarding friendships between older and younger women.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2002

About the author

Renowned Hebrew Bible scholar, academic administrator, ordained minister, and womanist wisdom griot. Her work in biblical studies is frequently cited in feminist theology and womanist theology.

Reviews

[Yuniknows · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Answers to our prayers blow upon us all the time. There are reasons when we’re simply not available emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and even physically to recognize them and seize them as the gifts from God which they are. Unfortunately, it often takes a personal crisis to get us to be alert to the people who come into our path and the opportunities that open up. It shouldn’t have to take a personal crisis, but often it does. We would all do well to pay particular attention to the people who come into our lives at critical junctures along our journey.”

~Showing Mary, Renita J. Weems~

Every woman needs another figure of woman whom she can look up to and help her to get through life. This woman should be the one who is not afraid to tell her what she needs to hear and also would rejoice with her for her achievements.

This book encourages every woman to be this kind of woman to her girlfriends, using the relationship between Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, the author describes the reciprocal relationship between Mary and Elizabeth where Mary leaned to Elizabeth as her support system in the process of her pregnancy and as Elizabeth to Mary who helped her during her child bearing.

The reason I give this book five stars is that not only that it talks about women support women, this book also talks about how we as woman, can embrace each other in every decision that we make and be a supportive peer to our girlfriends in every phase of their lives.

[Olivia Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was inspirational because I feel like I am at a birthing point in my life. The book talks about birthing new ideas and becoming. It also talks about putting on a pair of red shoes and strutting your stuff. Well I put on a pair of red shoes and won the area level speech contest with my speech, Let me take you to your pretty place. It was awesome! The book is fantastic I will be sharing it with my friends, sisters, cousins, etc. I loved it, and it was a quick read.

[Yani from the block! · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS WAITING FOR ME AT THE BOOKSTORE, IT REALLY SPOKE TO ME!

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a magnificent book to read during Advent (which was a happy coincidence on my part)! Don't let the subtitle fool you -- you might think this is a fluffy, "devotional" style book, but it's not. Dr. Weems writes profoundly about women's spirituality, birth and generativity, and the importance of female friendships. This gem is not to be missed!

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This devotional focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus and Her cousin, Elizabeth, but the main focus is Mary. This book challenges women to push forth the vision that God has given them.

[Wilhelmina Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Weems' accessible, thought-provoking approach to familiar biblical stories.

[Sheryl Boyce]

This was the book for me for this season in my life! It's a must read for christian women.