Monthly Archives: June 2014

But Mom….

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Found...by the disciplesAlthough motherhood is a big commitment, the Lord promises to be our co-parent. Jesus is an excellent mothering example, despite not having been a mother. In the New Testament he referred to his disciples as children and often handled them (and others) in mother-like ways:

  • He worked hard to get time alone. We read, “Jesus went off to the mountain, and they found him…” or “Jesus got up a long while before dawn, but they searched for him…” or “Soon afterward, Jesus went… and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.” (Sound familiar?)
  • He often said, “Don’t you remember?” or “I already told you!” or “Don’t you understand?” It seems these 12 men only listened half-way. (Ring a bell?)
  • He taught, healed, listened, traveled (all on foot with only rare opportunities to sit down), and washed feet. (Sound like bath time?)
  • People pushed Jesus, ran after him, plunked children on his lap, and grabbed his clothes. (Strike a chord?) His response was never to resist but to reach out to these same people with help.
  • Jesus had to deal with bickering between his disciples on dozens of occasions: “Who’s the greatest? Who gets to sit by you? Why do you fuss over those children? Why don’t we have anything to eat? Where will we get some money?” (Remind you of anything?)
  • Jesus used every question as a teachable moment, turning the challenge back on them by asking his own questions. (Recognize that challenge?)
  • Jesus’ entire ministry was a string of interruptions. We read, “He was on the way, when…” (Interruptions = irritation?) He always stopped what he was doing for face-to-face encounters.
  • Jesus had people peppering him with demands as he walked along, as he entered the temple, as he preached, and as he tried to get away from the crowds: “Jesus, heal me! Jesus, you must come with me! Jesus, just say the word! Jesus, how can I be saved?” (Are your ears burning?) He always responded with patient love.
  • Jesus always forgave. (…not always easy for moms)

Washing of feetSo Jesus was, indeed, a wonderful mothering example, even referring to himself as “like a mother hen” gathering her chicks around her.

We know we can’t do it as well as Jesus did, but there are a million ways to try, and striving toward his example is a good place to start.

We do get credit for one parenting characteristic we have in common with Jesus, however. He and we would lay down our lives for our children. The only difference is, he actually did.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters [and children].” (1 John 3:16)

No new prayer requests for Mary tonight (a praise!). We’ll update you as needs arise.

Wrapped in Comfort

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In the years after Nate died, I gave away most of his clothes, many of them to distribution centers helping the homeless. There’s one piece, however, I’ve decided to keep… and to wear. It’s his navy blue, terrycloth bath robe.

Nate's robeNate wore this robe daily. Throughout 2009 when he was plagued by severe back pain, he couldn’t wait to get out of his business suit each evening and into the comfort of this bath robe. Usually the transition was made immediately after our 7:00 PM dinner by way of a hot soak in the tub with a good book.

Once in a while I’d get frustrated watching him abdicate the hustle and bustle of family life in favor of undressing and moving toward a prone position that alleviated back pain. I even grew to dislike the navy robe, which for both of us represented the end of his day. I’d ask, “Are you getting ready for night time already?” Now, of course, I feel bad about the implication of my question, but I hadn’t known the extent of his pain.

These days, as I wrap myself in his “giant towel,” I think comforting thoughts about Nate. I ponder the absence of his back pain and know he’d smile to see how I’ve come to appreciate his robe. I also imagine how he’d laugh if he could see me in it, the shoulders droopy and the belt nearly going around twice. But he’d be glad I’ve finally discovered there’s comfort in that terrycloth.

Many of my widow pals say they find a warm refuge in wearing a husband’s jacket, shirt or socks. It sounds silly, especially if we never shared our men’s clothing while they were still with us. But it’s one of the few remaining links we have to our partners, and because of that, wearing their clothes takes on special meaning.

Scripture tells us God is a good comforter. He provides his Holy Spirit as a soothing balm from our insides out, supplying comfort deep-down in those places nobody sees. Jesus said that when we mourn, he’ll see to it that relief comes to us. (Matthew 5:4) One of the many ways he’s comforted me is by coaxing me into Nate’s robe.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4a)

Praising and Praying with Mary (on their anniversary today)

I thank God for 47+ years with Bervin! May the Lord bless him (and our marriage) through this cancer challenge.

Huh?

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The last time I was in England visiting our son Hans and his young family, we began chatting about the Garden of Eden. We wondered aloud about its only residents, Eve and Adam, the mother and father of the entire human race. What did they look like? Were they tall? Small? Dark skinned? Light? Were they children? Teens? Twenty-somethings?

Adam and EveEnjoying our discussion, we talked about their language. Without ever pondering this before, I’ve always assumed they spoke English, a thought that’s comical now. But what, then, did they speak? Was it Hebrew? Greek? Aramaic?  Probably not.

Most likely it was a language that doesn’t exist today. Hans got me laughing when he said, “Maybe it was the language of clicks and whistles,” and then gave me his best impression. We agreed it was too late for either of us to master that one.

All of our children have studied foreign languages in school, but most can’t use them beyond Taco Bell or The Olive Garden. Although a two year old can become fluent in any language in about a year, the rest of us need multiple years to speak even a little. The older we get, the harder it is to make a foreign vocabulary “stick.”

It’s even difficult (and can be risky) traveling in a foreign country where we can’t read signs or understand people. Mary and I once got so lost in Sweden we thought we’d have to spend the night under a bridge. Although we had a car, a full gas tank, Swedish money, and two fairly good brains, trying to follow verbal directions without the language was hopeless.

I’ve so loved listening to my grandchildren learn to speak between their first and second birthdays. I remember the day a bunch of us walked the four blocks to my mailbox with a 22-month-old Skylar running circles around the rest of us. Somebody said, “It’s a little chilly.”

Skylar immediately picked up on it. “It’s a little chilly, Mommy. It’s a little chilly, Weezi. It’s a little chilly, Gitta. It’s a little chilly, Midgee.” As she skipped along, she repeated these new words 20 times over until we were stumbling along the road with laughter. But Skylar was simply learning a language.

Klaus and SkylarNo doubt heaven will have its own language made up of words none of us could ever find in an earthly dictionary. When we first arrive in that new “country,” however, and are still learning to speak the language, surely the Lord will make a way for us to communicate with each other. Maybe it’ll be by way of the one language that’s universal even here on earth : music. If so, that’ll factor in nicely with singing our praises to God.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness.” (Psalm 100:1-2)

 

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. I praise God for the perfect peace he gave me during today’s infusion. (Lam. 3:57) Please pray against nausea tonight and tomorrow, which is only mild so far, PTL.
  2. I’m thankful my feeding tube feels a little better today.