Tuesday, November 17, 2015

A Momma Rocks

                                                         
She is a little girl.  She doesn't weigh enough to get the rocker to move so she looks up to me for help.  Her baby is swaddled tight and she holds it close and pats the back like she has seen other mommies do.  Her own clothes are not a whole lot bigger than the ones covering her little one.  She knows what a momma does.

A momma rocks.

The woman has raised her kids.  Sitting crisscross in the floor, she pulls the pillow hard against her chest as if she was trying to stop a bleeding heart.  Putting pressure on the hurt and the fear.  She buries her face muffling her sobs as she prays for her child who is wounded.  And she rocks. That's what a momma does.


The young lady has birthed two babies.  She is waiting for the nurse to bring her boy to hold for the first time.  When he was put into her arms the grief seemed to well up from her toes as she held this little one already breathing heaven.  I felt like an intruder in her grief, yet I had to stay so she would have something of her little one to hold when she left the hospital.  I watched as she looked at his hands and feet and touched his cheeks.  I heard as she whispered to him her sorrow.  Then she began to rock that precious bundle as moans came from deep within her.  Rocking and moaning.  Moaning and rocking.  Nothing was going to bring life back into his little eyes and the only way she could get comfort was to rock.  That's what a momma does.

A momma rocks.

Three times in seven days I watched this thing that seems to be instilled in us.  All three times it was a precious thing.  Two times it was heartbreaking but it didn't stop being precious.

God tells us in Hosea that He allures us to the wilderness and speaks tenderly to us.   He draws us to His heart and comforts us.  He gives us hope.  Isaiah 40:11 says that He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.  

Crawl right on up and and be gently held in His bosom.  He comforts so we can comfort.  He rocks so we can rock.


Photobucket

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Isabella Grace

We got us another girl and she is beautiful!!  The way Adam and Cristin take care of her you would never know she was their first.  They have been comfortable since the beginning.  We feel extremely blessed!! 

 
 




















Photobucket

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Dear Church Family,

Ten years ago we were at our family reunion and early Sunday morning I woke all the kids to make the trip for our first Sunday here.  When I woke up our little Robbie and told him we had to get ready to go to "Dad's new church",  he promptly told me that it wasn't Dad's church, it was God's church!  This little one who didn't know who Jesus was when he first came to our home spoke truth to this apprehensive soul.

We all walked in a little late which didn't help the inadequacy I felt for this job we were called to.

It was, and is only God's church and we are all blessed to serve together in this special place.

There have been articles I have seen on the internet about "What your Pastor (Pastor's Wife) Wish You Really Knew" and it made me a little sad.  Sure there have been times that I felt like the demands were too great, but in hindsight, I realize that they were never too great.  The times I felt like I was inconvenienced were clearly just times of selfishness on my part and for that I want you to know that I am sorry.  I never want you to think that your needs are not important enough to call.  I am only supposed to be an example of the servanthood of Jesus and I truly regret the times that I have not done that.

I also want you to know that I love you.  You are my family and my friends and I am forever grateful that God chose us for this place.  When you hurt, I hurt.  When you are happy, I am happy.  When I see spiritual growth in your lives I feel like I am the most blessed for the opportunity to watch that process in your life - knowing that all that really matters is what it will be like for you when you talk with Jesus that day.  I want it to be the sweetest for you.

Finally I want you to know that I thank you.  Thank you for welcoming our family into your lives and loving us like you have.  Thank you for trusting us with you most personal needs, knowing that we have nothing to offer but Jesus. Thank you for letting us walk with you through life and for walking with us.  Thank you for encouraging me to be more holy and to desire selflessness.  I don't want to let you down.

 So let's set our sights on Jesus and get started on the next 10 years.

I love you,
Carol