It’s been a while since I had a Thankful on a Thursday post ready to go on time. (It’s not for lack of material, believe me. I have so much to be thankful for! ) But I’m glad to be back to it. This is my own little bitty version of “kingdom work.” Spreading the love of Christ. Sharing the wonder of God. And giving thanks and praise where thanks and praise are due.
This week I tackled back-to-school. And by “tackled”, I mean emotionally clawed my way up from the depths of mommy despair to the pinnacle of “letting go.”
Again.
I mean, how can I face that smiling, grinning, slinging-her-own-backpack-on-like-a-old-pro, girl/young lady in waiting, and not despair that my baby is gone. That I’m throwing innocence to the wolves. That the THE WORLD will devour her in less time than it takes me to scarf down some chips and salsa.
And this…
…Is there even a word for the sound of your heart being ripped from your chest and burned at the stake of Education? How is it possible that my little man actually is a little man? I much prefer him racing back and forth upstairs with a dripping toothbrush and X-Men unddies, singing “I’m going to school, I’m going to school, I’m going to schooooool.” That is a child. This is a young man contemplating his first day in college.
Or maybe it’s me, contemplating Mr. Fix-It prying him out of my cold, dead hands on his first day of college.
Either way, I am thankful to know that God has a special place in his heart for mothers. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11) Some people think “those that are with young” means pregnant women. I’m here to say that anyone who’s seen us at the grocery store knows that I’m “with young” too. I think God’s Word is packed with meaning, and He knew all the conceivable interpretations of it when He said it, and He was talking to me.
And every other mother down here in the trenches.
And I’m thankful to know he has a special place in his heart for my children. He has great, big, wonderful plans for them. “Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not…For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.” (Isaiah 44:2-4) Wow, what a promise!
And when the weight of the world is on my shoulders, and I find myself seeing fire, flood, kidnapping, high fructose corn syrup, inappropriate language, unsupervised cell phone usage, R-rated movies, and P.E. classes taught by Planned Parenthood around every classroom door…I am thankful that I can lay awake at night and pour it all out to God rather than counting sheep (which is difficult to do in the dark, although we’ve pulled it off before using the truck headlights). “As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me…” (Psalms 55:16-18).
Because believe me, when I look at this…
…“Pray without ceasing” (Thessalonians 5:17) seems to be my only option.
