I think one of the hardest things about Motherhood, as a Christian mom, is to relinquish the ultimate care of my child into the hands of God. I remember when I was a child, nearly half a century ago, I would take off on my bike on a summer morning, play all day riding through every inch of town (small town!) and be home by dinner time. Mom didn't seem to give it a second thought. Now days, with all the worries about child abductions, molestations and all the awful news we see every day on TV, I have a hard time letting Ashley out of earshot. And yet, God has shown me that, as she grows, I can’t be there every minute to protect her. The older she gets, the less of a barrier I’ll be between her and the world.
God loves our children infinitely more than we do, and yet we still want to do everything in our power to protect them and make life easier for them. But are those God’s plans for our children? God tells us that His ways are not ours. (IS 55:8-9)
It got me thinking about some of the women in the Bible and the similar struggles they had with entrusting their children to God.
Take Jochebed, the mother of Moses. (Ex 2:1-10) For three months, she hid her infant while she continued to work. There was no formula available, no breast pumps or cold storage in which to keep her milk. She had to have Moses with her while she worked. Think of your children when they were three months old. They are big and squirmy! It’s no wonder “she could no longer hide him” at that point. Moses must have been the world’s best baby. A little colic, a too wet diaper, just a tiny little fuss and he’s a goner. Can you imagine her anxiety each and every day, just praying that he doesn’t make a noise, trusting in the Lord that He’ll send some miracle to save her baby.
But the Lord didn’t send a miracle, at least not when she thought He would. And when she could no longer hide the child, she’s faced with a huge dilemma. I can’t even imagine the sick feeling she must have had while preparing that basket for Moses. I’ve been on the Nile. I’ve seen the dozens upon dozens of crocodiles floating in it and sunning themselves along the banks. What a choice to have to make!
I wonder if she sent Miriam to watch the basket or if Miriam simply snuck off? Scripture doesn’t say, but either way, we know that God’s plans for Moses were far greater than Jochebed could even have imagined and Miriam was used to fulfill them. Not only did the Lord rescue Moses – by the same people that wanted to kill the Isrealite children -- but the Lord also returned him to Jochebed to be raised. AND she got paid for it to boot! Moses grew up to lead his people out of slavery and to the Promised Land. What a destiny!
Then there’s Hannah who couldn’t have children. (1 Sam 1:4-11) The desperate woman was so agonized that she constantly cried and didn’t eat. In her desperation she vowed to dedicate her child to God if only he would give her a son. Promises are easily made when we are in grave situations. Deals made with the Lord in these circumstances flow freely from our lips. Vows back then weren’t as easily broken as they are today, however, and Hannah was true to her promise, yeilding Samuel to the temple when he was weaned. Scripture tells of her elation at finding herself pregnant. At what point do you suppose it hit her that she wouldn’t be by her son’s side to guide him, to hug him when he got those scraped knees, to nurture him to adulthood? I’ll bet it wasn’t long after her celebration.
Last year, when Ashley turned 9, it hit me, “I’m halfway to seeing her go off on her own.” This year I thought, “I’ve only got her 8 more years.” What was it like for Hannah who knew she only had until he was weaned and then she’d have to give him over to a man (Eli) who couldn’t even raise his own sons? Scripture says they were “exceedingly wicked.” What went through her heart knowing her son was growing up with those wicked men? With no nurturing presence of a woman?
Yet the Lord watched over Samuel, even in those early years. Samuel learned to listen for the voice of God and he got the great honor of annointing Isreal’s very first King, Saul. And before he died, God granted him the privilege of annointing David as Saul’s successor.
There are so many more of our sisters in the Bible who time after time laid their desires for themselves and their children aside and accepted God’s desires for their children. And time after time, God’s purposes for their children exceeded anything they could possibly have imagined.
Little girls are especially dear because we see our lives through theirs. As our daughters grow, we constantly think ahead..to when she’s old enough to play tea party with us, to the cute little outfit she’ll wear on the first day of school, to the day you can take her shopping and she likes it as much as you do, to sharing your favorite books from your childhood with her and teaching her your favorite recipes…and on into envisioning her first boyfriend, her first dance, her wedding. But whatever dreams we have for her, they’re miniscule compared to God’s dreams for her.
It’s our job to remember as we go through, when some of these dreams are realized and some aren’t, that God’s ways aren’t ours and it may not always go the way we envision or dream or even pray. But God is good, all the time. And he has promised to be with his children, all the time. So pray for them to love God with his or her whole heart, and to trust the Lord completely. Parent with open hands. The paths our children walk will be much smoother if we allow them the freedom to follow His lead.
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