But, although we as parents are grateful for their appreciation and certainly share some of the credit for our children’s success, they are the ones who put in the hours of work and practice. They are the ones who have the skills, abilities, and drive—by the grace of God---to achieve their dreams. It’s an interesting dynamic, isn’t it?
I recently was asked to
speak about God’s spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1) at a women’s meeting at our
church. I shared a testimony from my younger mom days when I was feeling a bit
depressed, staying home with then four little ones and having no real ministry
or impact ( at least to my mind). My
husband encouraged me to “seek the Lord” and pray that He would speak to me in
this time of feeling down. In prayer I felt led to read Isaiah 8: 17-18. Verse
eighteen reads: “Behold, I and the
children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord
of hosts.” The message to me was
that my children were my ministry and that as I devoted myself to them, the
Lord would use us as signs, witnesses, testimonies, and blessings to His
people. This verse has given me great
encouragement and peace over the years as I have quietly served my family,
while my husband has had the more public ministry to our church. Soon after I received this verse, a young
woman in the church came up to me and said, “You know, Melanie, you and your
children are such a testimony to me.”
Years later when I was experiencing a difficult pregnancy with our
youngest, an elder in the church told me he had been praying for me and he had
a scripture verse to encourage me: it was the same verse in Isaiah I had
received years before!
Fast forward twenty
years, and I can boast in God’s grace that all nine of our children (and their spouses)
not only love the Lord, but are actively involved in ministry. The Lord has
more than fulfilled His promise to this once young, struggling mother. All of
my children truly are blessings to the people of God. Although I am gratified
and grateful for the times they say, “Thanks, Mom,” I’m even more grateful for
God’s blessing and what He has done in and through them.
Just a year and a half
ago, we had five sons living at home and a constant revolving door of young
people. Now with all our children, but two college-aged sons, happily married,
we’ve entered on a new season, caring for my elderly parents. In less than two years, we’ve gone from a
home like a youth hostel to one more like an assisted living facility—but that’s
a story for another time. My beautiful mother has Alzheimer’s and I’m finding
our roles are reversing as I assume more of the caregiver/mother role with her.
It’s sad and difficult to watch her decline—especially when I owe her so much.
She, and my father, instilled in me a love for literature, stories, history,
and travel, and most importantly, a love for the Lord. My mom has been one of my biggest cheerleaders
in my writing career. As an excellent proof reader and editor, she contributed
more than anyone to making certain that my books were well-crafted. For this
reason, I dedicated my first book Inklings
to my parents. I’m saddened that my mother can no longer take on that
important role for me with any of my future writing. However, I would like to
once more take this opportunity to publically thank her for all she’s done to
mold me, by God’s grace, into the wife, mother, teacher, and writer I am today.
“Thanks, Mom!”
