Father of the Fatherless

It’s sad but true; many moms are serving in dual roles, as mother and father. Divorce happens. Some fathers, though outside of the home, are supportive and involved. The numbers of those who simply walk away, abandoning their children, is staggering. Fatherless children, confused and hurt, face many challenges throughout life.

Feelings of insecurity and trust issues are common. Having no good role model for a father of their own, they often repeat the mistakes of the past generation. As a result, their children suffer; once again, mom has to carry the sole responsibility of parenting. There is hope. The cycle of failure can be broken. We must place our trust in the Father of the fatherless.

“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land (Psalms 68:5-6 NKJ).” God’s word comforts those who feel lonely and unloved.  If mom shoulders the entire load, the Everlasting Father waits to lift her burden.

PB&J Are Here to Stay!

Moms, do not feel intimidated in the kitchen. True, it may be hard at times to please your husband. If he compares your cooking to his mother’s,  I pity you. Making your children happy is often much simpler. Their favorite foods might not be high in nutritional value; yet, if you work in healthier choices, you cut down conflict, and cut back time slaving over a stove. Fix sandwiches; pb&j are here to stay!

Pb&j is sweet, high in protein, and you can make it in a snap. Moms, take the time you saved, find a quiet place, and seek rr&j.  Rest, renewal, and Jesus sweetens our spirits, plus energizes and empowers us to carry out our calling. Jesus knew the importance of rest. He urged his disciples to find time for relaxation. “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31b NIV).” Get out of the kitchen and into the closet!

Ballerina

My choice of dolls revealed inner levels of desire and maturity. There were many bald diaper clad baby dolls with open mouths for insertion of bottles. I wrapped them in receiving blankets, pretending to feed and burp them. My parents gifts of doll cribs and carriages were places I bedded them down for naps or a good night’s sleep. I wanted to marry one day and be a real mommy.

Nannette was a large bride doll with big beautiful eyes and a head of curly brunette hair. Dressed in a white bridal gown she had no need of diapers or baby bottles. I was growing up and my choice of dolls revealed changes I did not even realize. I have a snapshot in my family album of my last doll. At the age of ten or eleven Mom & Dad filled my Christmas wish. I found a ballerina doll under our tree.

My ballerina was dressed in attire for a formal ballet. From head to toe, she was a dancer! Her hair was styled in a bun and she wore satin pink ballet shoes upon delicate feet. She was no dolly; no, she was a dream come true. I could pose her or twirl her around and proudly positioned her in the middle of my bed as a decoration in the bedroom.

David proudly and passionately danced unto the Lord. “And David was dancing before the Lord with all His might, and David was wearing a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14 NAS).” He moved his feet as instruments of praise and rejoicing. He could not stand still! There were no cheering crowds with shouts of Bravo. He heard his rapid heart beats instead,  Hosanna!

Tag Team

Brothers and sisters often are involved in pushing and shoving, which if left unchecked can escalate into wrestling matches with no holds barred. Frustration has Mom on the ropes but she holds her ground and serving as referee often sends them to opposite corners for time-out. In many instances, a mother of several children might secretly wish she could call in relief as one involved in tag-team wrestling.

As children of God, we wrestle with evil forces; experiencing weakness, we might be tempted to throw in the towel. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NKJ).” In times of discouragement, we can depend on God to step into the ring.

God’s Spirit abides within and yet at the same time is always walking by our side. He never leaves us in the clutches and we honor Him each time we call out to Him for rescue. The boldness of believers of the early church was not due to any natural strength but because of each one depending upon the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain them. The next time you feel down for the count, call out for re-enforcement. The Holy Spirit will win the match!

 

 

 

 

“Water Slide!”

   Josiah, son number four, is whooshing down the water slide at the YMCA today.  He’s nine years old, going on 23.  He loves slamming the stuffing out of a baseball, tree swings a la Tarzan, riding bikes at warp speed, and “dare devil-ing” (don’t ask!).  Whether it’s re-enacting the invasion of Normandy, defending the Alamo, scouting the Cumberland Gap “Boone style”, or winging it through Pearl Harbor in ’41, Josiah thrives on imagination, action and adventure.

 

Do you?

 

Do you long for adventure?  To live beyond “blah” or the daily grind?  To be part of a bigger story, something larger than yourself?  As Brent Curtis writes in The Sacred Romance:

 

“The deepest part of our heart longs to be bound together in some heroic purpose with others of like mind and spirit” (p. 19).

 

Consider the invitation of Jesus Christ: 

 

“…I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. 

Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, NIV)

 

Talk about an Invitation to Adventure with “heroic purpose”!  The Lord Jesus invites us into a bigger story, larger than you or me.  It’s all about Him.  An adventure that’s even better than the water slide at the Y!

 

By Kristine Lowder

 

For further reading:

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God

By Brent Curtis & John Eldredge

Thomas Nelson, 1997

ISBN: 0-7852-6723-9

 

Epic: The Story God is Telling and the Role That is Yours to Play

By John Eldredge

Thomas Nelson, 2004

ISBN: 0-7852-6531-7