A Mother's Heart Cry
Have you ever heard
these cries, or thought them yourself? So
many, many times through the years I have found myself
saying many of these things. In
the middle of the baby years, with a baby in my arms, toddlers
hanging on my skirts and a preschooler, I wished for someone
to help with the chores. Later,
there were plenty of helpers, but more work and home-schooling
to accomplish and I was sure that this was the most difficult
time of my life. Still
later, when my last babies were tiny, and we were sitting
up to chat with young people facing life-changing decisions,
I was saying other “ifs.” So
soon, the babies stopped coming and I wasn’t nursing any
more but my nights were interrupted because of changing
hormones. The
temptation to be discontented was still there. Some
ladies never have problems sleeping even with hormone changes....
As I was thinking
about the last thirty years, I realized that one of the
things that had sapped too much of my vitality was discontentment
and murmuring. I
remembered the joyful, singing girl that became a mother
and somewhere, some of the song was lost. Where
did it go when I did not have it? Why was it too often
gone? I see
so many, many tired, frustrated mothers who do not have
the joy of Jesus on their faces. What
is the answer? What
have I learned over the years?
When we were married,
I was joyful, and full of song. In
fact, singing characterized my life. I had learned through
some very, very difficult experiences of being alone, that
Jesus was all I needed. When
I met with Him and walked with Him my heart overflowed
with song. So
when I met and married my husband, my cup was really full
and overflowing. Now
I had a person to walk with me and to share with. I was
very happy.
The babies began
to come and I loved them and loved mothering. Children
had always been my special interest. I
had worked with them all of my life. But
the babies were fussy, very fussy. They cried constantly
and were sick so much of the time. Finally
we uncovered allergies and began to learn how to deal with
the problem. But
my nights were always interrupted with little ones who
did not feel well. I
began to drown in the sea of self-pity and discontent. I
dragged through my days. I
was not serving. I was just tending house and caring for the little ones. I
felt like I was failing God. Hadn’t
He called me to serve others, too? My
songs lost their joyfulness. My
smile flashed less often. Of
course, I was weary! But,
remember friends, “the Joy of the LORD is my strength” (Nehemiah
8:10). Without
joy there is less strength. For a few years I struggled
through my difficulties, keeping on, but really lacking
joy and vitality.
Then the Lord met
me in a new way and presented to me very clearly the ministry
that I had in my own home, the calling that was mine, the
challenge to contentment. And the sparkle came back. Oh,
the babies still cried at night and I was still weary,
but I was thrilled with the understanding that my children
were indeed my mission field and that as I served my husband
and nurtured our children I was serving the Lord. I
was content to serve however I could in my little way,
with my children. How sweet it was to be there, and how
many, many opportunities came my way to fill others with
a bit of happiness and song. This
was another joyful time.
The years passed. Then
some major disappointments touched our lives. Once
again, I had to come to grips with the fact that my happiness
is in Jesus Christ alone. No
matter what I may do, unless I serve the Lord Jesus with
all my heart, soul, mind and strength I will never be contented.
Circumstances do affect us, and trials come, but they do
not need to steal our joy. What
an important lesson to learn. Why
does it take us so long to really grasp this?
Here I am today,
a mother of nine, ages twenty-nine to seven, and a grandmother
of six. The temptation is still the same today, but the
struggle is not usually as difficult. It’s like learning
to walk. The
more you do it the easier it is to keep your balance. The
longer you look at God as a good God, easier it is to accept
all things from His hand, sweetly and with contentment.
Jesus is my personal friend and He answers my prayers. I
do fail, but I can always go back and find sweet forgiveness
and go on!
The other morning
in my devotions I read this verse, I Corinthians 10:10 “Neither
murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed
. . .” I
thought, “Isn’t that why our happiness is so often destroyed? It
is not having many babies close together, being short in
finances, suffering from poor health or having a husband
who doesn’t help us with the housework that steals our
happiness. But
discontentment surely will. A
discontented, murmuring spirit will destroy us just like
the children of Israel were destroyed. Our bodies will
not die of a plague, but our joyful spirit will die.
Contentment is a
jewel of great price. With
it, a small, simple house can seem like a mansion. A frugal
meal can become a feast and everything we do can be a blessing. Without
it, we are irritable, the children whine and the day does
not go well.
What is contentment? Webster’s
1828 says contentment is “a resting or satisfaction of
mind without disquiet; acquiescence.”
I like that. No
disquiet, only a restful, satisfied mind. And
since everyone in our household reflects us, there will
be a resulting restfulness in our homes. There
will be a peaceful acceptance of what God brings into our
lives each day. Peaceful
acceptance brings joy, and a joyous heart overflows with
praise.
Psalm 118:24 “This
is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice
and be glad in
it.” When you and I learn this
lesson, it changes our whole life. This
is a lesson that I wish the grandmas had passed on to
me. If you
can see each day as a gift to you, from God, you will
be able to better accept what is in the package. You
will begin to rejoice. When
you see your husband and your little ones in this light
you are far more able to joyfully face each new day.
Can you wake up
with a sigh and a moan if you understand: “This is
the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be
glad in it?” Of
course not! I
have taken the challenge of waking up with my alarm, and
thanking the Lord for the new day and the things He will
bring to me. This
starts my day on the right foot and is quite helpful. After
all, it is harder to grumble about something that you have
already thanked God for! Then,
as each spill, each challenge, and each interruption comes,
stop and say, “Thank you Lord, another chance to bring
glory to you.” It
will change your life.
If you have never
read the story, “Pollyanna” by Eleanor Porter, you have
missed an opportunity to be challenged by a child who had
a contented attitude and a happy outlook about things,
even difficult things. Read
it aloud to your children and you’ll all benefit from the
message that there is something in everything to be glad
about. That
message is the whole of the book. It is shouted in every
chapter and we have often been inspired by it.
God’s Word is full
of the same message. In
fact, the author of “Pollyanna,” got her message from the
Word. That
is where her story took root. Take
a look at a few of the commands in the Word to contentment. I
Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.
. .” and Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in
respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content.” Then
comes the injunction to rejoice, and that one is everywhere
in the Bible. It
is bursting form every seam in the Psalms and sprinkled
liberally many other places. Look
at a few of them. Psalm
118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice
and be glad in it.
Psalm 40:16 “Let
all those that seek thee rejoice
and be glad in
thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually,
The LORD be magnified.” Psalm
90:14 “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice
and be glad all
our days.” Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with
joy shall ye draw water
out of the wells of salvation.”
Contentment and
joy go hand in hand. Contentment
is a choice, and joy follows it. If
you do not have joy, you need to get in touch with Jesus
and find Him to be your satisfaction for each day. Accept
Him as your Lord! Then
when He gives you something you would not choose, you can
recognize it as a gift from Him. This really changes how you look at everything. “Be
thankful unto Him and bless His name for the Lord is good”.
Psalm 100:4-5
Study contentment
and joy. Learn
your lesson well and you will find peace and contentment
filling your heart and life daily. You may fail and find
yourself bogging down in the middle of difficult circumstances.
The song may go out of your heart and the light go out
of your eyes. Then fall on your face and meet your Father who knows everything
and has arranged each new day especially for you. Repent
and rejoice. This
is the day that the Lord hath made!
The following poem
sums it up pretty well.
A heavy sigh, “Oh what a day!”
I have to “be content,” you say.
You go about, mouth drooping low
Leaving depression where you go.
Your shoulders stoop, your head hangs down,
Contentment is your “only crown.”
Contentment? That is what you say?
But friend, you aren’t content today.
Come now. Lift up your head, admit it.
You’d like your way if you could git’ it.
But since you can’t, well, “you feel good,
You’ve borne your lot, just like you should.”
That weary look, the martyred air
You have assumed, so unaware
Is not contentment, it won’t stand,
CONTENTMENT AND JOY GO HAND IN HAND.
By
Rachel Weaver
The
Remnant, October-December, 2006
http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/
2006/November/theremnant-November2006-mother.a5w |
