Monday, September 5, 2016

A Mother's Strength - Dinner #72


     One of my favorite projects, this year, has been writing “The Mommy Letters” . . . I don’t write them every day, but I write them whenever I can.  Sometimes it’s a letter to just Brooklyn, or just Charlotte . . . Sometimes it’s a letter written to all 4 of the girls. . . But it has ended up being much like journal entries, describing what is happening each month, in our lives, and telling them about their strengths and weaknesses, and their latest accomplishments.  
     Each one of us has our strengths and our weaknesses. And then, there is our personal health to add to the daily equation, as well.  There are entire DAYS, or even MONTHS, where you just feel WEAK.  Some days you’re dealing with hour-by-hour waves of “morning sickness”, while still trying to keep up with the rest of your “crew”.  Some days your children are quite sick, and you’re sick, right along with them.  And, most of the time, your husband can’t stay home to help you – the duty of the job still calls.  And so does yours . . .
     It has often been said, “The Lord won’t give you more than you can handle.”  Yet, I have also heard, “Yes, He sometimes DOES give you more than YOU can handle, because it is something that HE can handle!”  Some days, He wants us on our knees, humbly crying out to Him, “I can’t do this on my own! I need THY strength, O Lord!” One of my favorite “verse phrases” to cling to, in the last couple of months, has been Psalm 84:7 “They go from strength to strength . . .”  When Hubby has a 12-hour work shift, the Wife’s strength comes from her God! On the days when Mom has to take all the children with her to one baby’s doctor appointment, Mommy’s strength comes from her God!  “How do you do it?!” people will ask.  We “go from strength to strength.” Strength for today; strength for tomorrow.  Psalm 80:17 says, “ . . . whom thou madest strong for thyself.” When GOD’S strength is required in our lives, it brings GOD glory!  It is a BLESSED place, when we find ourselves needing the Lord! Psalm 84:5 “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee . . .”  And the beautiful thing about God’s strength is, it never runs out!  Psalm 71:3 “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort . . .”  
     Sometimes we go through whole periods or stages of our lives where we need God’s strength . . . When I look ahead to adding Baby #5 to our home and to heading out on deputation as missionaries, that is what I see.  A whole stage of life requiring God’s strength.  You see, one of “my verses” from the Lord, regarding the country of Indonesia, has to do with God’s strength: “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD . . .” (Psalm 71:16) I know I can’t do it on my own - “ . . . I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” And then, the Lord receives the glory!
     It is a rather crazy thing to haul five little ones around the country, raising support, so your family can live as missionaries, overseas.  Most churches don’t vote to pay your electric bill or your van payment, every month.  Some can only write you a one-time “love offering” check, or send you $25 a month . . . The process of raising funds “to GO” is a very lengthy one.  No, we can’t prepare our children for all that deputation is going to bring them – the 7-hour car rides, the frequent McDonald’s “Value Meals”, the lack of familiar faces, and the constant change in church nursery workers . . . But we “will go in the strength of the Lord GOD”.  We know that He will help our Little Ones find peace along this journey, as well! Psalm 71:18 “ . . . until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” 
     Having God’s strength is “The BLESSED Life” – for Mommies, their husbands, and their children.  Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
     But, “Can God really give ME strength?”, you might ask . . . This day is just too much for me to handle!  This LIFE is just too much for me to handle!  Psalm 29:11 has God’s answer: “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”  It is His PROMISE to us!  All you need do is ask Him!  Psalm 18:30+32 “As for God, his way is perfect . . . It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”
     May we wake up in the morning, Dear Mommies, and fall on our knees, to ask the Lord for HIS help to get through our day!  We can pray with the Psalmist David, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” (Psalm 18:1)  And so another day of God's blessings will begin . . .