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The only one who knows how to shape a woman’s heart is God. He is my only hope – my only advice. Anyone or anything apart from Him – war against. Our daughter is not the enemy. She needs to know we know that. And she needs to know she is worth the fiery battle that ensues daily. She needs to know you will never let her go no matter what strikes – even her. She needs to know that we are grateful for our gift of strength to hold her in the journey, to pray for her, to tell her truth, to guide her in Truth and Him alone. She needs to know we will never resent the lessons her questions of life and her identity present. We have no greater joy than to learn from God with her. She needs to know we are watchful, prayerful, and steadfast, so she can rest. She needs to know we see the enemy in every form, not because we are so smart, but because we were so stupid to believe him. She needs to know our story – when we say that Jesus saved us – she needs to know just what from and what that means daily. She needs to know that in our salvation – she is rescued from what we could be apart from the God who loves her. God saved her mom – for her. She needs to know that we are in the battle together and the armor of God can handle the chinks and mudslinging – That the shield of faith covers us both. She needs to know we believe big enough until she can. She needs us to show her there are lilies in the valley of war. And we will gather them all on the way to victory. And can I tell you this…when you feel like you aren’t able or worthy to go with that little girl one more step – consider your mom. She felt that way once, too.
I Corinthians 13 is a chapter about missional love. Read it with Jesus’ name in the place of love, and read it with this understanding. The Spirit of our Savior who is love – indwells you (John 17:20-23). His love is what we have been gifted to live in (John 15), and His love is what we have been created in Him to exude so that our babes will see and know Him.
Remain in love.
“Love suffers long and is kind…” (I Corinthians 13:4a)
I stood beside my mom one afternoon admiring her peaceful garden. I had retreated to her side when the struggle with a strong will had exhausted me. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I said to her “Mom, I’m going to bring my children to you. Can you finish raising them?” I was joking – of course – but I wanted to let her know I was beside myself, and I wanted to let her know I NOW understood so much more where she had been as a mom.
She laughed and simply looked at me with eyes that spoke of our 45 years together as mother and daughter. I knew she relied on God for me and for my brothers. I knew she did not have a manual for any of us, but daily read her Bible and prayed on her knees for our lives and her impact on each one of us. I knew that my brothers and I had brought her joy as well as grief. I knew that the journey and the end result was nothing she would take credit for, nor would she dare to try to script for me the way that I should go. My mother is a good mentor. She leads me to God time after time.
Wisely she said in a warm embrace and tears of her own, “God gave them to you. They’re your gift from Him. He will accomplish what He has begun in you.”
“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness is everlasting; Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8
Love never fails. Oh how we need to hear this again and again. Hear it with me, will you? Hear it, and say it, and pray it, and share it, and rest in this Truth. And by the power of Christ that resides in us, WE will – We WILL – WE WILL … let love accomplish what Love alone can do. He is faithful.
