shadowwonder

Philippians 4 contains a blessed reminder for this mother’s heart: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need . . . “ Though I might be inclined to be anxious (as mamas sometimes are), this verse reassures me that it’s okay. I can respond by pouring out every concern to God.   I can tell Him what I need, what I’m hoping for, what I long to see Him do in my children’s lives. And I can trust that He hears my heart’s cries.    Paul’s words remind me of what a blessing I have in my heavenly Father.   And they underscore the importance praying intentionally and often for the young lives my husband and I have been given to parent. But as I read on, I’m reminded of something else: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ...

Be Not Afraid These words can strike her like a cruel joke sometimes:   On those days, she’s afraid for the better part of her waking hours. Afraid she’s not doing enough , Not trying hard enough, Not being enough. Afraid that, in the end, she’ll recognize the truth: She was failing all along. Even though she prays . . .  Even though she listens . . .  Even though she tastes the relief of a relevant response once in awhile . . .  Even then, she is afraid: Afraid she might overlook something vital. Afraid she’ll miss a word, Miss a prompt, Miss the one-time-only moment of divine guidance, The moment meant to change the trajectory of her life forever,   The moment that would, once and for all, transform her into the so-much-better version of her sinful self.   If only she weren’t so busy. Busy with afraid . Sometimes, though, She presses “pause” on the fear. And she hears it . . . .  Be not...