What Really Matters

I made myself a new friend. Ah me, what a dream, I haven’t even met her! Let’s start again; I wish I could have her for a dear friend. Everyone applauds her for her sewing ability and no doubt, it was wonderful, but I don’t think that is the reason people cried when she died suddenly. Would you weep just because someone who made you a garment passed away? I think not. Would you if you were desperately poor, and it was the only decent thing you had to wear? I doubt it, after all, a brand new, possibly heavy, homespun garment would last quite a while, and even if it didn’t, that isn’t what you would remember her by.

               Really? So what was? Dorcas was one special woman. Her heart was overflowing with love. These were poverty-stricken widows and others to whom she ministered. Widows, get that? Wives’ and mothers whose husbands’, the father to their children, had died, possibly drowned at sea because Joppa was a seacoast town. They were heartbroken, lonesome and she cared.

Sure, they showed anyone interested the tangible evidence of how kind she was to them, but that wasn’t the most important part.

Here was someone that loved them, shared their suffering and when she died they couldn’t bear to let her go.

               I guess Peter couldn’t either, because when he was summoned from a nearby town, he dropped everything he was doing, and came.

               It was a tremendous miracle when Dorcas rose from the dead and many became Christians because of it, but let’s not remember her for doing acts of mercy, but for showing compassion.

               Hey, Dorcas, may I get to know you in Heaven and be your friend, there?

You Don't Have to Be a Mother to Be a Mother

Do you have to give birth to a baby to become a mother? I’ll let you answer that for yourself. Winston Churchill is a well-known historical figure who made a huge impact on the world. Because of the influence of his nanny, he believed Nazism was “barbaric paganism” and was determined to keep it out of Britain. And he did.

So let’s talk about this woman, Mrs. Everest. She was a mountain of strength to the poor, troubled boy. He was born into an upper class Victorian home where children were pretty much raised by the servants. Although he loved his mother it was Mrs. Everest, who gave him comfort and direction.

There are many young women, and older ones to, whose hearts are breaking because they have never been able to give birth to a child. I sympathize with you. Without a doubt having your own child is, or at least can be, an incredibly wonderful experience. Please don’t feel you have failed, that you are a failure. I beg you from the bottom of my heart, please don’t despair. Perhaps God called you to service in a different way. That maternal instinct needs to be nurtured, not squelched. Can you do it? Is there some little one who you can touch, bond with and make a difference to?

Do you have a niece or nephew who is experiencing frustrating times? What about the child down the street? By all means make friends with the parents first to prove you are trustworthy. Have you ever considered working in a daycare or being a nanny? These are by no means lowly occupations. The cry for foster parents, especially for older children is ongoing. Do you have a heart that’s big enough to take one of these older children in?  Did I just hear you cry, “I wouldn’t dare?” Good for you if you know your weakness, but did you know that God is much stronger than you? You can hide under His wings and He will go before you and make it possible. You don’t need to do any one of these things on your own. Besides you can start with little baby steps. Try being a respite parent for example, or less than that, smile or offer a cheery word of comfort to that overwhelmed mother at the grocery store. 

So who is a mother, a true parent? Someone who really cares about children, someone who wants to comfort them, guide them and help them to become happy, secure, responsible adults. Can you do it? Of course you can—if you place your hand in the Hand of the kind and loving Heavenly Father.

Do we need true mothers? We sure do! Do your part.

P.S. If you have a father-heart it’s no big deal to change the wording a bit. It applies very much to you also. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.militaryhistoryveteran.com%2Fwinston-churchill-and-the-nanny-who-saved-western-civilization%2F&ei=wX7sVJmGNIurogS_vYHQDg&psig=AFQjCNFlwObaWQ6UhAJCTkwAQlmNopfV6g&ust=1424871242650796

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How Worthwhile Are We?

I heard a statement that had a profound impact on me. A man from Burkina Faso made it.  

    “If a senior dies it is like a whole library has been destroyed.”

 Many of us are seniors, but are we wise? Are we compassionate and understanding?  How are we filling in the dash between our cradles and the grave? Perhaps you know I am referring to how a gravestone has the date of someone’s birth, a dash, and then the date they passed from this world.

The Bible teaches us that the older women should teach the younger, (Titus 2.4) surely we must have accumulated something worthwhile in our life experiences. Do we have the humility and kindness to help those behind us who are floundering? We all have different ways we can do it.

Are we writing books’ of value with our lives? ‘Only one life will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.’

Let us pray for each other.