June 1, 2009 9:29 AM
Parents: listen for the still small voice
I mentioned that Tripp was at the Virginia Republican convention on Saturday - a real step forward for him as he is closing in on complete recovery from nine months of the knee replacement aftermath. I mentioned I was supposed to go and decided at the last minute to stay home, even though I felt uneasy about him going by himself.
Now I can see the Holy Spirit at work. What if Zach had had his motorcycle accident and neither his mom or dad had been here?
Time after time, I see the Holy Spirit at work in the decisions we make as parents. Which reminds me of something I wrote in Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room: Heavenly Help for Earthly Moms
after recounting my daughter Samantha's response when God called her to homeschool from No-way-I-can-do-this! to Can't-wait-to-get-started! in couple of weeks (She's now in her 10th year of homeschooling):
Don't you love how God does that? I've heard it said that God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called. Samantha's experience is a vivid reminder to me of my own. God called me to be a mother even though I wasn't prepared at all. But my years in AA taught me to be teachable, and my Garfield cake experience [told at the beginning of this particular chapter] taught me to always think outside the box. And my love for God and gratitude for how He'd rescued me gave me the willingness to listen to the specific things He wanted to tell me.I love the story of how Elijah waited on the mountain for the Lord to pass by:
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper.For someone like me whose life for many years seemed consumed with all kinds of commotion, to hear the gentle whisper - or, as the King James translation says, the still small voice - is a miracle and a relief. Only a few times have I heard actual words as we know them, but God doesn't need to use earthly words to impresses my heart with things He wants me to understand. He uses a still small voice.
It was the voice that called Samuel (1Samuel:3) while he lay in bed. The voice called him quietly and simply - called him by name. At first Samuel didn't know the voice, and went to Eli, the priest in whose service he was. Three times the voice called Samuel's name, and three times Samuel answered his earthly authority. Then Eli understood who was really calling and told Samuel how to answer the Lord."Speak, for your servant is listening." And God spoke to Him.
Just as I want to be practicing His presence as many moments a day as I can - yes, I know so far it has been far from most moments, but I'm not going to give up trying - I want my heart to be like Samuel's, turned to God and whispering, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
God, your servant Barbara is listening! Listening for your direction this day. Listening for your wisdom in dealing with a wayward child. Listening for your patience when I've lost my own. Listening for your comfort when I'm tired or depressed. Listening for your assurance that I needn't compare myself to others. Listening for your encouragement as I encourage other mothers. Listening for anything that will help me become more conformed to Christ.
You'd think by now, with 12 kids, 8 grandchildren, and 34 years of practice [add 4 grandchildren and 6 years of experience today] I might not need to listen so hard, but I do. For there are days I seem to barely get through - but then there are days my spirit soars on wings like eagles, when I can run after my kids and not grow weary, when I can walk miles just cleaning up my house and not be faint (a mother's paraphrase of Isaiah 40:31).
What makes the difference? I guess it's whether I'm really listening or not, whether I'm really ready to let God lead. Knowing God as Abba father, it seems natural to put my hand in his and let Him lead me where He wants me to go, but some days I'm better at it than others.
I remember in the movie Chariots of Fire
, when Eric Liddell's sister scolds him for choosing running over missionary work. Eric listens respectfully, and agrees that his desire to run makes no sense at all, adding, "I just know that when I run I feel His pleasure."
I want to feel God's pleasure, too. Which means I will listen for His guidance on the big issues and small ones too.
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, when the church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. For some beautiful reflections and prayers, visit Pentecost. Jesus said,
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." (John 14:17-21)
Tripp will be taking Zach to see Dr. K this afternoon - did I say when I did my write-up that after his bones had been moved back in place (such a violent undertaking, it makes me cringe to think of it), the ER doctor said he will need surgery. Zach says that in spite of the splint, he can feel the bones shifting around when he gets up to go to the bathroom.
Please pray for wisdom for the doctors involved and for swift healing for Zach. Marine OCS in October sounds doable, except when you realize that not only does Zach have to recover full use of his ankle, but also be in optimal physical condition.
And as Christian parents, give thanks that we have supernatural guidance available to us everyday. As a mom who spent 18 years parenting without that help and now have spent 22 years with it - and as a mom who had a vivid reminder just the day before, I'm giving special thanks this Pentecost that God sent Jesus to die for my sins, but didn't stop there. He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit so I would never be alone.
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Ever had this kind of God-incidence in your parenting? Would love to hear your story.
Posted in Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink
