A Perfect Parent

We went to a birthday party last night for a lady who turned 99 that day. She is small, reasonably sharp, and said she didn’t like being the center of attention, even though she smiled a lot and enjoyed the hugs and displays of affection from her son, his wife, two of their children plus their spouses and children. She laughed at their antics and loved the pictures sent from more family in far-away places. We laughed too. One grandson wrote in his card for her that she now was out of the double-digits. Another said she was now like Wayne Gretzky, a record-breaking hockey player whose jersey bore number 99.

We also enjoyed seeing the effect of good mothering. The son serves God with all his heart, as do his daughters and their spouses. Those grandchildren, ages 5 to 15 sat at their own table, well-behaved and obviously enjoying one another and obviously loving their parents, grandparents, and their great grandmother who is nearly 100.

Today’s devotional likens the love of God to the love of a good mother. Like a trusting child runs to her for everything from comfort for a bruise to advice about what to do next, the children of God can run to our Heavenly Father and find that He is enough to deal with all our fears and troubles.

I’m feeling the weight of that today. After church, there is an important planning meeting for a non-profit organization that I serve on their board. My concern is a loss of focus that others don't seem to realize. Will I share it and be ignored? Yet I feel compelled to say something. This is scary and I just want to stay home. I keep telling myself that God will be with me and that God is enough, but past experience with this board and their focus keeps nagging the opposite.

Two verses come to mind about the role of mothers and that connect to this meeting and my attitude toward being there. One of these says:

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)

A good mother could be like the three generations of mothers that we were with last night. The were all happy together, no squabbles and well-behaved. The birthday girl chuckled and said, “We must have done something right.’

It was easy to see that the will of God had been involved in the raising of those families. It speaks to me that this is a key ingredient in all of life, even when involved in things like a secular board meeting that never mentions God. Regardless of how they think, I am still responsible as God’s child to do His will.

The other verse is even more specific. It says:

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. (1 Thessalonians 2:7)

A nursing mother remembers that her children need tender care. A wise Christian remembers that those without Christ are unable to discern the will of God and without the power of the Holy Spirit they (and also those who know Christ) are unable to do the will of God. That means treating them with gentle respect, not like stubborn and willfully contrary people, but as what the Bible says they are.

This is helpful, but challenging. It is almost automatic to respond to views that are contrary to the Word of God as being deliberate and self-centered — probably because that describes me when I am contrary to God’s will, but stubborn disobedience is not the same as spiritual blindness. My attitudes need the Spirit’s rebuke, but blindness needs His enlightenment… and that I cannot do.


PRAY: Jesus, I know that You are able to do all things. Today is a test and I feel I’ve flunked before it even begins because I don’t want to go to this meeting. Keep my mind on You and Your gentle way with those who do not know You. May I be totally aware of Your presence with me today, and always thinking that You are enough for all the challenges before me.
Later: God surprises me again. All of the other board members put forth ideas that matched mine. This was not expected by me and joyfully received by the everyone else. Again, God is enough! He also forgives my skepticism!
 

We do have a secret weapon . . .

 

2 Kings 5; Psalms 117–118; Daniel 9; 1 Timothy 2

The news is filled with either Covid-19 statistics or politics. Both Canada and the United States are experiencing issues never before experienced. The media and the average person seems fearful of both the virus and the way government leaders are behaving. It doesn’t matter what side of the fence people are on, they fear what is going to happen next.

This morning’s readings include this:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1–6)

I wonder how different our political situation would be if everyone prayed for the leaders in our countries. This passage hints that people would experience a saving relationship with God and know truth — the truth that sets us free from our sin and selfishness. Without sin messing with our lives, certainly we would know peace and quiet, even be godly and dignified instead of complaining, demanding our rights, or rioting in the streets.

The passage later says . . .

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. (1 Timothy 2:8–11)

Praying people are distinct. As this says, holy hands without anger and quarreling. I cannot even imagine a world without anger and arguing. For women, it says “likewise” so both men and women should pray this way.

While the rest of the instruction is often said to address a cultural need back in those days, I must admit many women are wrapped up in looking good, even in being sexually desirable. Magazines targeted for women have more ads for fancy clothes and cosmetics than instructions for life. In fact, I can’t remember ever reading an article on modesty or self-control in any of them.

As for submission, many women hate that word. Instead, we are told to be assertive, to take our place as equal human beings, to demand our rights. Many Christian women even ignore what the Bible says about submission because most think it means being a doormat or subservient. However, the best definition is says submission is freedom from the tyranny of always needing to have my own way. It is about contentment, trusting God to take care of me rather than demanding anything. I must admit that this takes years to realize and put into practice, but it is totally worth it because it is one of those qualities that helps me pray for others.

I try to imagine a culture where both men and women are praying without anger or fighting but in harmony, agreeing on the needs they see around them and asking the Lord to meet those needs. This concept might seem foreign and seem impossible but this is not true. Through Christ it is possible to be content, to give up selfish desires, to live with love and respect for others. That is the good news. He is our secret weapon for He answers the sincere prayers of those who are yielded to Him.

APPLY: For me, the praying part is easy and difficult. I can rattle off prayer but having that yielded attitude means learning to deal with frustration (mild anger) and other forms of selfishness. At my age, I am content with a respectable appearance rather than looking like a model or a movie star but doing the good works of a godly woman is not as easy as putting on some makeup. God is blessing me with a desire that His will is done rather than my own, and that attitude is freeing me from a ton of stress for which I am thankful. Jesus keeps me keeping on . . . and He is an incredible helper in learning to ‘pray about it’ rather than letting it make me angry or feisty.