I wrote this after Mother's Day last year and posted it, much to the chagrin of at least one of our children... I am revising it some, but the basic message is the same.
On Mother's Day 2010, we had a beautiful Sunday evening service honoring mothers and many children stood and gave testimony regarding the influence their mother's had in their lives and the blessings they had received. After the service, I began to think, "What about the mothers whose children did not 'rise up and call her blessed'? What about the moms who are praying for prodigals that haven't come home? Where is their inspiration?"
For my husband and I, this is a second marriage. We do not have any children together, but between us we have five. Are you having an issue with a child? We can probably relate. We have dealt with everything from alcohol and drug use to psychiatric problems to unwed pregnancies to homosexual behavior to sexual promiscuity and cohabitation to sexual abuse.
Maybe you don't have any of these particular issues, but have a child who just doesn't hold to your values. They just don't seem to want to grasp the things you hold dearest to your heart. Maybe not as traumatic but just as painful.
Are you weeping over a child? In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was God's prodigal. They defied Him, called Him names, rebelled in ungodly relationships, abused Him, abused themselves - but He continued to pursue them not only like the Father that He is, but with a Mother's heart. A heart that never gives up on her child. He sent messengers to warn them of the consequences of their actions. One of those messengers was Jeremiah - the weeping prophet. He wept over the nation of Israel like we weep over our children. He wrote an entire book of Lament over them. And do you know what is in that book? In the midst of his weeping and lament Jeremiah wrote, "Yet, this I call to mind and, therefore, I HAVE HOPE: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions [mercies] never fail, they are new EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS." (Lamentations 3:21-23)
Do you have a prodigal - there is hope. One of our five children is currently serving the Lord with his life. He came home.
As for the other four...God is faithful. They have not returned, but God's mercies are new every morning. We continue to love them, and pray, and know that God's compassions never fail. He is faithful, not only to our children, but to all of the mother's who pray daily - who weep over their children. Lamentations 3:24-26 goes on to say, "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
KEEP PRAYING - KEEP HOPING - THE LORD IS YOUR PORTION - WAIT QUIETLY FOR HIS SALVATION.
On Mother's Day 2010, we had a beautiful Sunday evening service honoring mothers and many children stood and gave testimony regarding the influence their mother's had in their lives and the blessings they had received. After the service, I began to think, "What about the mothers whose children did not 'rise up and call her blessed'? What about the moms who are praying for prodigals that haven't come home? Where is their inspiration?"
For my husband and I, this is a second marriage. We do not have any children together, but between us we have five. Are you having an issue with a child? We can probably relate. We have dealt with everything from alcohol and drug use to psychiatric problems to unwed pregnancies to homosexual behavior to sexual promiscuity and cohabitation to sexual abuse.
Maybe you don't have any of these particular issues, but have a child who just doesn't hold to your values. They just don't seem to want to grasp the things you hold dearest to your heart. Maybe not as traumatic but just as painful.
Are you weeping over a child? In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was God's prodigal. They defied Him, called Him names, rebelled in ungodly relationships, abused Him, abused themselves - but He continued to pursue them not only like the Father that He is, but with a Mother's heart. A heart that never gives up on her child. He sent messengers to warn them of the consequences of their actions. One of those messengers was Jeremiah - the weeping prophet. He wept over the nation of Israel like we weep over our children. He wrote an entire book of Lament over them. And do you know what is in that book? In the midst of his weeping and lament Jeremiah wrote, "Yet, this I call to mind and, therefore, I HAVE HOPE: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions [mercies] never fail, they are new EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS." (Lamentations 3:21-23)
Do you have a prodigal - there is hope. One of our five children is currently serving the Lord with his life. He came home.
As for the other four...God is faithful. They have not returned, but God's mercies are new every morning. We continue to love them, and pray, and know that God's compassions never fail. He is faithful, not only to our children, but to all of the mother's who pray daily - who weep over their children. Lamentations 3:24-26 goes on to say, "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
KEEP PRAYING - KEEP HOPING - THE LORD IS YOUR PORTION - WAIT QUIETLY FOR HIS SALVATION.
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