EVERY MOTHER’S GREATEST RESOURCE

By: American Decency Staff

The sun is setting as the final inning begins. My 10-year-old son stands up to pitch. His team is up by two runs in their end-of-season tournament. As I watch him walk to the mound, my motherly heart wants to rescue him from the weight of expectations. So much is riding on him. My stomach is in knots as I watch his first pitch.

“Strike!” the umpire yells.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Once again he takes the ball in his glove. Over and over he stands resolutely, sometimes throwing strikes, sometimes missing the mark. All I can do is watch and pray.

Watch and Pray

As I sit on the sidelines, I realize anew that much of motherhood is about watching and praying. There is so little I can do to protect my children from the harmful realities of life. I cannot prevent skinned knees, unkind words, broken hearts, or painful losses. I can tend to the wounds and comfort the ache, but for the most part I am an observer on the sidelines, cheering them on as they play the game.

Thankfully, I am not left to watch alone, worried and anxious. In a moment my heart can turn to the Lord in prayer and find peace for all that I cannot control. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul encourages us with these words:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6–7)

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