Leviticus 12  The Lord gave Moses specific commands regarding childbirth. A woman who gave birth to a male child would be considered "unclean" for 7 days and then the boy would be circumcised.  She would then take 33 days more, where she could not be touched, nor could she enter the sanctuary. After that .. then she could offer the sacrifices for her purification..   If it was a girl child, she would be "unclean" for 14 days and would take 66 days before she could present the sacrifices for her purification. 

After the days were fulfilled the new mother would offer a burnt offering and a sin offering. If she could afford it, the burnt offering would be a 1 year old lamb and the sin offering would be a pigeon or turtledove. If not, she could offer 2 of the birds.  It appears that the woman would bring her offering to the priest at the door of the tent herself.  And the priest would "make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean." 

In Luke 2:21-24 we read that this was exactly what happened after Jesus was born.  Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem after the days of purification.. 33 days after Jesus was circumcised. ( A total of 40 days after His birth).   "And when they had performed everything  according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth." (v39) 

We do not know why the days required for a daughter were different than for a son.. but this was what God said, so that is what they did.  This would be a precious time.. don't you think?  A time for the mother and child to rest.. to bond.. to be cared for.. to heal.  The new mother was exempt from any other responsibility besides caring for her newborn child.  At the end of this time of purification she would be ready to present her offerings.. to worship the Lord who blessed her with a child..  to enter back into the life of the community.. 

Father in heaven, how precious are the children we are given.. a blessing that we do not take for granted.  Thank You for the privilege of becoming a mom.. a grandmother.. or a great-grandmother.  Thank You for the joy of seeing our children grow.. especially in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. We commit them to You.. we pray for their salvation and for their love to grow deep as they learn to walk in Your ways.. by the grace and mercy that You alone pour out upon us... through the blood of the One true Lamb who has made atonement for us.  Be glorified in our lives and in our families we pray.. in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.