When I am afraid, I
will trust in you. In God, whose word I
praise, in God I trust…. Psalm 56:3-4
I was engaged to Joshua and in
college when my Mother gave me this box.
Inside the box was a pearl bracelet she bought me to wear at my wedding. I have no recollection what I was afraid of
back then. I have no idea why God laid
it on her heart to provide me with that verse and to write those words inside
of the box.
But I do know today that I am
thankful beyond words my mother wrote that verse and those words.
The past few weeks have had my
mind in overload. We are nearing the end
of our licensing process for foster/adoption.
As we near the end my mind races on how things will be when we add two
more children to our home. My mind
worries about how we will all adjust, what will happen if/when the children go
back to their birth families? And on and
on the list of concerns/worries goes.
Then last week we found out about
yet more paperwork that needed to be provided to our agency.
I have been reading and reading
every night verses about God being in control and reminding myself that God has
this and we are just walking along with Him.
No need to worry.
But late last week I got upset. Real upset.
I was upset my Mother is not here with me to help out. To give me not just a helping hand, but her words
of wisdom. My Mother had a way with
children that was unexplainable and I know the days are coming where I will
long to be able to sit and talk to her, and hear what she has to say about
raising these new children in our lives.
The day I was most upset about it all one of my cousins let me know she
had been thinking of me that day and praying for me. I told her I knew exactly why God had laid me
on her mind and I explained my frustration at Mother not being here. I told her I knew God is who I need, but it
is still hard. She also reminded me that
while there is certainly no one to replace my Mother, I do have so many family members
and friends who I know are there to lend a hand, ear, wisdom, or whatever else
we will need. I thanked her for the
reminder. She is right. I have my God, and I have others.
Yesterday afternoon I was looking
for something in my dresser drawer and I saw this box. I knew Mother had written a verse on it, but
I did not remember which one. I picked it
up and read the verse and tears immediately began flowing down my face. God was again reminding me not to be
afraid. I wondered why Mother would
have written a verse, but not included where it was found. I then noticed she had actually written it on
the side of the box and I went and looked the verse up in my Bible. I knew that bracelet was in the box so I
opened it up to look at it. I had
forgotten she wrote something on the inside.
As I slowly read her words, running my finger over her words, I
could hear her sweet voice saying them to me.
In that moment, I was reminded, yet again, God provides. While I could not look my Mother in the eye
and see her give me these words of wisdom, I was able to look at her handwriting,
and hear her words.
Again, I have no idea what was
going on in my life over ten years ago when my Mother gave me that box. I do however, think the gift of that verse
and her words were more for me today than they were for me back then. As I went to bed last night I told my Mother ‘thank
you’. Thank you for listening to God
that day and providing me with that verse and wonderful words of wisdom.
I prayed that I too would be as tentative as she was
to God’s words to me as a Mother and to provide my children with His words
for their lives.
God goes before you, is with you, is all around you.
I do believe God does this type of thing all the time. If only we recognize it when it happens. I think we are often too busy to notice.
ReplyDeleteOne time a friend gave me a suitcase from her mother-in-law's estate because she knew I liked suitcases. None of her husband's siblings wanted the suitcase or it would have not made it my way. It was filled with soaps from hotels all over the world. It was fun reading all the places she had traveled while looking through the soaps. Even Marcy enjoyed looking at them. Then we found a full size bar of Norelle soap. It was Mother's fragrance. It brought tears to my eyes, I took it and put in my bathroom and still use it to wash my hands. I think of Mother when I use it but it is not the kind of thing I might have ever gone and bought for myself. I just would not have thought of it.
Was that soap a gift or did she (Naomi) buy it herself?? Either way why didn't she ever use it?? Was it forgotten or was it saved for someone for whom it would mean much more. It was just a bar of soap to her but to me a sweet memory.....I think, and will always think, it may have been destined for me even before I lived next to her daughter-in-law. Then God put it on my neihbor's heart to give that suitcase to me.
You know my nests are small gifts from God as well. You can't go buy them. No nests r us to shop for them. I just find them on the ground. When ever I do I think God is sending me a gift. Reminding me he is here and he loves me. Sometimes it is a message that everything will be alright and he is still in control.
thanks I enjoyed the rest of the story and your website.
Love--
Aunt Shari