Her children rise up and bless her…”  

(Proverbs 31:28)

There was once a young Christian mother, who like many others before, set her foot on God’s sovereign path.   “Is the way long?” she asked of God.   And the Spirit of God said, “Sometimes.  And often the way is filled with many trials and tribulations.   But the end is better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was very happy in those beginning years, and she could not believe that anything could be better.   So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and swam with them in clear streams; and the sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her coat and blanket of prayers, and the children said,  “Oh Mother we are not afraid, for you have taught us that God is always near (Deuteronomy 31:8).  And no harm can really come to us.”   And the young mother said, “This is better than the brightest day, for I have surely taught my children how to pray and trust always in the Lord.”

And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, “Pray and put your faith in Him and you will get to the top.” (Hebrews 11:1)    So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, “We could not have done it without you, Mother.”  And the mother, when she lay down that night looked at the stars and said,   “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned not only to pray but to have faith during their difficult climb.”

And the next day brought strange skies which darkened the earth and clouds of disappointment took them all by surprise.   And the children began to stumble in the storm, but the mother quickly said,   “Look up, lift up your eyes to the Light.”

(John 1:4-5) And the children looked and saw the glory of God, and it was so bright that they could see their way beyond the darkness. (Acts 7:55)   And that night the mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children, God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, but as the mother grew older and weaker, her children grew taller and stronger, and continued to walk in the light of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

The days for the mother grew more difficult as time passed and her time on earth began to draw near.  But her children were always there for her, even to the end.   At last they all came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gate flung open.   And the mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey.   And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone with God, and one day their children will follow in their footsteps.” (Proverbs 31:25, 28)

And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”   And they stood and watched her as she went through the gates. And they said, “She will always be with us.   A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living presence.” (2 Thessalonians. 4:13-14)  

Teachable Moment

In this teachable moment take a walk with your family one evening after dark.   Take a flash light with you, but let mom lead the way.   After you have walked for a while, take turns with your children being the flashlight guide.   When you are ready to head home make sure each of your children have had a chance to be the leader.   Sometime during your walk, stop and put your hand over the flashlight.   Note to your children how dark and unfamiliar everything looks when the light is covered up.    As your walk comes to an end, be sure to hang back a little, mom, so your children can finish the trek home leading with the light.   Then sit down and share with them the following analogy.   The flashlight is like the Spirit of God; He is always on and always with you.   He will be with you even in the darkest of nights.  The family walk is the night journey they will each have to complete during their lifetime.   The darkness of the evening is sin; without the light stumbling and losing the way is inevitable.   The covering of the light is when they decide to quit trusting God for the walk they are taking.   Uncovering the light is like prayer, as it immediately brings forth the light, which will show the way.   The children leading the way home represents your accomplishment of preparing them to walk in the Spirit. (Resource: Temple Bailey “Food for Thought,” Kent McClain “Teachable Moments”)

Word of God

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Hebrews 11: 1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

John 1:4-5   4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.   5 The Light shines in

the darkness…”

Acts 7:55    “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the

glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

Galatians 5: 25    If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Psalm 31:25, 28    25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; she smiles at the future 28 her children rise up and bless her….

2 Thessalonians 4: 13-14 14 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (passed away); so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.