“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
While I was in Galveston with my family over July 4th my Mom and I got in an interesting conversation. Well, we got in quite a few interesting conversations, but one of them in particular has continued pestering me. There is a really old and intriguing graveyard in Galveston and I’m not sure if the bleak but somehow alluring glimpse of it was what got us going off on a tangent or if our own eccentricities pulled this conversation out of nowhere. Knowing us probably the latter, right? Anyway, the two of us were discussing how unique the child and parent relationship is in the human experience. How the unconditional love of a parent for a child is so matchless and so unique that it is difficult, if not virtually impossible to find something with which to compare it. She described to me the way her heart felt the first time she saw the two headstones of her mom and dad sitting side by side one another in the Davis-Greenlawn cemetery. The way it felt for her to be left alone in this world without any parents, the very human beings whose mutual existence brought her into this world. It sent a chill up my spine. Now, my Mom would be the first to assure you that her relationship with her parents was far from a perfect or idyllic one. It was, in fact, a very difficult and complicated relationship but still that truth didn’t shake or numb the dreadful feeling of being orphaned.
I got to thinking after Mom and I had this overly melancholy yet truly significant conversation how many of you feel or have felt orphaned. I bet there are several of you who don’t have anyone to go along with you to a really scary doctor’s appointment. I imagine there are a handful of you who have no one to share the burden of waiting months on end to hear back about what may seem to be a very daunting prognosis. And I wonder if there are even a few of you younger women who spend the entire day looking after and meeting the needs of several of your own children without the comfort of having even one of your own parents around to cheer you on and to tell you what a great parent you are.
I cannot presume to know what it is like to lose both parents or even to have inactive parents. But, I can say that over the past year or so nothing has resounded clearer to me than that sobering reality that I am officially an adult. I’m not talking about some of the superficial things that come along with getting older like getting wrinkles, I am talking about days when I’m sick as a dog here in Atlanta and I no longer have my mom around to tickle my back and bring me 7-Up, saltines and chicken noodle soup. I’ve had some moments when I want to lace up my running shoes and start sprinting back home to my Mom because I’ve finally decided that adulthood is totally overrated and the last thing I want to do is clean my kitchen. I’ve had a couple of days when my heart has been so broken that the thought of sitting on my dad’s lap or being in my mom’s embrace was the only thing I felt could really suffice. Many of those days Colin has been around to love on me but the Lord has made certain that he was gone on several of those days as well.
I can remember one week in particular several months back when I was tied to the bed with an incapacitating migraine and Colin was on a long business trip in Miami. In my misery, I had a revelation. I came to realize that at the end of the day, it really was just my Creator and me. You’re thinking to yourself, “Good night, Melissa, you majored in Biblical Studies, and you just figured this out!?!” How true it is that some theological truths can only be learned with time and experience. Anyway, the feeling of being all alone heightened the reality that ultimately God is my comforter. My doctor could only do so much and the pharmaceutical companies had all but failed me. I had some intense and providential moments that week slowly learning how to be consoled by a God who I cannot see or touch. For the first time in my life, in adulthood no less, I truly felt like a child of God. It may sound silly but every night of that week I listened to the album called Sing Over Me: Worship Songs and Lullabies (on very low volume, by the way). The most unlikely song was the one that I listened to repeatedly, “Jesus Loves Me” sung by Christy Nockels.
A make-up artist friend of mine told me the other day that she was on a photo-shoot with a young woman getting her bridal portraits taken. She relayed to me how the photographer instructed this young woman to think of her soon-to-be-husband while she was posing and the tears just started streaming down her cheeks. I feel about like that young woman did when I hear this version of “Jesus Loves Me”. I feel overtaken with emotion for some reason. Maybe it’s because the older I get the more I realize just how weak I really am and how dumbfounding it is that Jesus could really love me. Or maybe it’s because Christy sings the song with such conviction, like she means it. It’s really sweet to hear the song sung by a group of children but it’s wholly different to hear a grown woman sing it. To hear a grown person with fully developed mental faculties sing, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me”, well, it moves me. Don’t get me wrong, I love children, but when I hear a person who is fully aware of things like mortality, economic meltdowns and global catastrophes sing a song like “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with such purity it slays me.
If you haven’t read or heard the song in a while, here are the lyrics:
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but he is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
For the Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me!
He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
For the Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me
He will stay close beside me all the way
He’s prepared a home for me
And someday his face I’ll see.
Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.
Oh, yes, Jesus loves me.
He loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
For the Bible tells me so.
Pretty powerful, right? Perhaps we skipped a couple of those verses in kindergarten because I don’t remember the song being all that weighty. Maybe I was too busy eating a donut. The donuts were my favorite thing about Sunday school growing up. Yes, I was sinful at birth. The first line I love is “little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong”. I like to think of “little ones” not just as young children but as you and me. I figure I have some license since in the gospel of John, Jesus addresses grown men as “little children” (John 13:33; 21:5 “children”). Lately I’ve been reading a lot about being called children of God and what the implications of this reality are during our earthly journey. This past week I came across a sermon by John Piper in April 1995 called “The Depth of Christ’s Love: Its Lavish Benefits”. He comments on this text, 1 John 3:1 and I think you’ll enjoy reading it. I was most moved by the second half.
“Not only did it cost him his Son to save us from sin and death and hell and not only were we enemies so that God had to propitiate his own righteous anger in order to save us but he went way beyond the love of rescue and the love of sacrifice and the love of clemency to his enemies. In and through all this he had a greater design. He showed us another kind of love beyond all that. He might have rescued us, sacrificed for us, forgiven us, and not gone any further. But instead he showed us another kind of love—he took us into his family. He made us to be called children of God. Don’t take this for granted. First of all, he might not have saved us at all. He might have said, “Enemies don’t deserve saving, and that’s that.” He might have said, “My Son is too precious to pay for angels, let alone humans, let alone ungodly, rebellious humans.” But he also might have said, “I will save them from hell, and forgive their sins, and give them eternal existence—on another planet, and I will communicate with them through angels.” Nothing in us, or in the nature of the world required that God would go beyond all redeeming, forgiving, rescuing, healing love to this extreme—namely, to an adopting love. A love that will not settle for a truce, or a formal gratitude, or distant planet of material pleasure, but will press all the way in to make you a child of God. A member of the family. But even that is not an adequate description of this kind of love. When John writes about our becoming children of God, he is not thinking mainly in terms of adoption. He is thinking in terms of something more profound. He is thinking of new birth. There is no human analogy to this…The love that John has in view here in 1 John 3:1 is not the love that merely takes care of paper work and adopts. That would be amazing beyond words—to be adopted into God’s family. And Paul does describe it this way. But John sees more. God does not adopt. He moves in, by his Spirit, his seed, John calls it, and imparts something of himself to us, so that we take on a family resemblance” (John Piper).
Being called a child of God is not just a metaphor.
It is who we are.
Regardless of how self-sufficient we imagine ourselves to be.
Or how old we are.
Our Father is close beside us all the way.
In our darkest and loneliest hours.
Long after our earthly parents are gone.
During a string of seemingly endless doctor’s appointments.
And at the moment we draw our very last breath.
In Christ, we are never truly orphaned.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
That we should be called children of God.
What a wonder.
A sweet smile was brought to my face when you were talking about Jesus Loves Me. When my baby girl is upset that is the only song that will calm her. I have sung it over 30 times in a row (I'm telling ya, it was my secret weapon to calm her!) I still remember singing it to her one night with tears running down my cheeks. As an adult I appreciate it more than I ever did as a child.
Love that! That is just the verse I've been meditating on this week!
Melissa, I loved your post. It covered all the bases of how it feels to be orphaned. I was the youngest of 6 and both parents went to be with the Lord by the time I was 40. I raised by children without them. it was hard. I LOVED the pic of your ladies, but I'll bet you are so grounded…..haha! The bow is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Melissa: My house is quiet. I pulled up the Blog…happy as always to see a post from you. The depth of your words and insight therein matches the stillness in both my heart and my home tonight.
July is especially hard for me, a contrast of emotions as two anniversaries come around…one a life and one a death.
The life I celebrate each July 7th is my own adoption into God's family. I came to know Jesus as an adult, a Pastor's wife nonetheless. I went from being a "church member hypocrite" to a born-again child of God, and I have never gotten over it. My joy runs deep and is tied to the security of knowing I am His.
Twelve days after I came to know Christ in 1985, my younger sister died instantly in a tragic car accident on July 19. I was 27 years old, she was only 25. I lost my precious sister, the sharer of every childhood memory I owned, and I have never gotten over that either. She left behind a baby daughter. These days I tell my niece all about her mother every chance I get. She wants to "connect" with us more than ever. She loves to hear about her mother – she aches to know everything. Some days I can barely look at her – she looks so much like Jean. She is the same age her mother was when she died. My heart aches for my Mom and Dad, even after all these years.
I caught my own Mother crying not too long ago. She is 71. I asked her what was wrong, and she said "I miss my mother, you never get too old to miss your mother." It broke my heart because my Granny was a tough woman, but my Mom loved her deeply. My Dad is 75 years old, and came from a large family. He was the 9th of 11 children, and he is the ONLY ONE LEFT…he says it is the loneliest feeling.
Well, I've cried and I'll probably cry some more, but yet my heart is steadfast. Thank you Melissa for reaching out and ministering to all of us.
My husband and I love old hymnals, he has some antique ones. Look at these two verses from Jesus Loves Me I found:
Jesus loves me!
Loves me still
Tho' I'm very weak and ill
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.
Jesus loves me!
This I know
As He loved so long ago
Taking children on His knee
Saying, Let them come to Me.
What a Wonder indeed,
Georgia Jan
Melissa:
I hope you never get to the point that you don't have "revelations", (please keep sharing them), and yes at the end of the day, it is just us and the Creator. What an awesome thought!
Your Mom and Sister are awesome, so honest and not ashamed to admit you don't have all the answers. Our saviour just keeps revealing them one at a time. Keep sharing!
Every year at Christmas ( or least by Easter) I give both my young adult daughters a "truism". It is the kind of "sayings" by deceased father and mother told me throughout my life. Some of my fathers were, "It's just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man" or " a fool and his money soon part"! I think this upcoming Christmas I will use this post!!! Thank you!
Dear Melissa,
Thank you for taking the time to write to your siestas with your God-given insight and wisdom. It's hard to explain to people, and I rarely do, what it is like growing up emotionally "orphaned" from your mother. My mother had her own issues to deal with and became increasingly self-centered through the years. My stories are too sad to relay, but I remember as a five year old memorizing scripture because God was all I had. I loved my Sunday school class because I knew there was a Jesus who loved me. Taking it a step farther, can you imagine mothering your own mother as a young child and teenager? Never mind my needs, emotions, frustrations or fears as a child, I needed to tend to hers. It's a lonely place to be, but by God's grace, I married a godly, gentle man and moved away from that cycle. God has been my everything ever since I can remember as a child. He is my source to this day because things have not changed with my mother other than I have put up boundaries. Did I mention too that I endured a cruel sister who made fun of me with no parent to counter her attacks? I don't say this for pity because my Father has been more than gracious and loving. Through the good and the bad, he is my redeemer, protector, rock and friend. I used to long for a Mom that I could call up and tell my worries or frustrations, but God needed me to call on him more. I know it sounds sad, but it's not. God has matured me in my faith and trust in ways I could never imagine. Now, in my mid-forties, I just ask him to use me to encourage and help others. God has blessed me with three beautiful grown children, and by God's hand, I have been able to nurture and be so close to my own kids. I can comfort, reassure, and guide them because of my Father. AMEN!
I am not usually quick to say this, but this post has just brought me further into the concrete on my knees(like imprinted them for life there.)
Tomorrow is a day that has come plenty of times before since I was 4 yrs old. My momma will be having a serious surgery. Large Intestine, Colon, and hernia to be removed. I want so much to wrap my arms around her and tell her I love her, but I don't want her to see my tears. I don't want her to be discouraged in anyway that I know she may not come out of the surgery. Anyway, I'm sorry for throwing this out here, but I didn't expect this post to hit me so hard. In the end of it all, yes, I know Jesus loves me:)
xoxo
angie
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
– Jesus
This is John 14:18, but somehow I like it better just as a quote.
I have the great joy of working with orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda, and 400 children call me "Mama Kay". This word from Jesus keeps my head on straight. It is not me who will meet their needs, but Jesus. It is not me who must bear their grief and pain, but Jesus.
Praise God! He is so wonderful!
I enjoyed reading your post and many of the comments left. Maybe someone has said this already, but there is something that we tend to leave out of our walks with Christ. We tend to forget that suffering brings us closer to Christ. Jesus's sufferings brought about the salvation of the entire world. Our sufferings united with His have amazing redemptive power. We tend to think that we shouldn't suffer and do everything we can to avoid pain. It is through this pain, however, that We feel closer to Jesus…who has experienced more pain than Him? Absolutely pray for healing but accept these times of suffering as a gift of grace…that Jesus is drawing you closer to Himself.
Wow, wonderful post Melissa! Even in my 50's I still miss my mother and father. Thank you for the reminder that we are never truly orphaned, that God is always with us and we are always loved.
Like Linda, I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to my Mom in the hospital as she was drifting away. I sang that along with others such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". We use to sing these songs while we drove to our grandparents home in the country. Wonderful memories.
Chris in PA, I removed the picture after like a minute because it was such poor quality and I decided against it but perhaps I'll post a similar one in the future. Much love! Thanks for commenting!
Love,
Melissa
You are definitely your moms daughter! I love the way both of you express yourselves in such a personal and moving way.
Thank you for a message that never gets old! Yes Jesus loves us when nobody else can or will.
Much love!
Angie, I saw on your status that your Mom is having surgery. I will pray. I can only imagine the difficulty of it all.
Love to you.
Melissa
PLEASE PRAY for me… I am in my early 40s… as of earlier this year both of my parents are gone now. I have NEVER had truly deep connections. I know God is with me, but I am so lonely. I have been going to an excellent church for about 6 months now, after trying to connect with people at my old church of 17 years. I reach out and reach out. I have kids, I am not needy… but I am hungry for companionship, godly Christian companionship. I volunteer, etc. But, I recently had surgery and had no one. A few years ago I graduated college… and I knew of no one to invite that would actually come, so I didn't go to my own graduation. I ask God to examine my heart, my mind, my personality and show me areas that I need to change. But everyone else is so busy. I try to reach out to others who sit by themselves, etc…. but it never seems to go anywhere…
Oh my – how wonderful does God work. I so needed to read this. Two weeks ago, my father was murdered,and I am dealing with such a wide range of emotions, and I have only been able to cry out to God – only his name and not much else. But, I know he knows what's in my heart, and in my great moments of weakness right now, he is strong. Please pray for my mom and my family as we deal with this.
That is so strange…I was just thinking about this today! Realized for the first time at 45 that I'm on my own with God.
What a wonder He is indeed. Thank you Original Moore's for sharing yourselves with us. We are blessed.
Marty
Melissa, I too am many miles from my parents and have been most of my adult life due to my husband being in the ministry. I so identify with your longing for your mom and dad on those difficult days. However, I bet, like me, you don't necessarily just long for them on the hard days. I find I sometimes miss my parents the most on the good days, when I long to share laughter and victories and good food with them.
But, I have learned that loneliness and longing is actually a gift. Not that I feel I am better than my friends who stuck close to home after they grew up, but I have gained a little insight they may have missed. You know as well as I do that "this" is not our home anyways. We are only passing through. Somehow, the fact that I am so far from my familial home and the places and people I am most familiar with keeps me focused on my eternal home all the more. When I am lonely, I realize it is not only my family I am lonely for, but my God. This loneliness drives me to Him like nothing else can. Don't you think that is indeed a gift? Sometimes an undesirable one, but good all the same.
Yes, Jesus loves me and He draws me close every day.
Blessings,
Kay
Wonderful. If you haven't already heard it. Listen to Avalon's song "Orpans of God". It is one of my favorite songs of all time!
You won't believe this but I watched Pollyanna yesterday for the first time in a long time and cried. Your post really touched my heart today.
Thank you Melissa for the information about the devotional book! I think that I am going to order it because I'd like to read that portion for myself.
I am tired of fear dominating my life and I am ready to fight satan on this one! Last nights video on fear and walking out in faith was so much needed…spoke directly to my heart.
Bless you sweet sister!
Bethany in Ca.
what a gift. so alone tonight….was just wishing Jesus would appear in my office. and through you He did. thanks so much.
my earthly father recently told me he was ashamed of me. he was drinking but that's neither the cause or the excuse. just broke my heart. and I'm almost 40..hurts as if I were 10. maybe more.
So thanks for letting me know Jesus isn't ashamed of me…and that I'm not an orphan.
Much love,
KR
Thank you so much for your insight. I am 36 and my Dad died when I was a senior in high school and my Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was pregnant with my first child 5 years ago. I had my second child last year and I just sat on my deck, holding my baby, and just cried because I needed & wanted my Mom so bad. She is too far into the disease to be the Mom that she was to me before. It's one of the hardest things to deal with. Your reminder that God is always there is very helpful! Thanks so much! Laura
Thanks Melissa. I needed to hear that.
I do have one surviving parent, but the severity of her mental illness requires me to look after her. And she doesn't like it. At all. And yet, I still wish for her to be a real mom to me and a real grandma to my kids. And I still try to make her happy despite the fact that it is an impossible task. It is like trying to fill a bottomless hole.
But I believe that, for me, God's command to honor your father and mother means that I need to care for her. My goal is to make God the judge of whether I have served as He has required. But I'm having a week where I realize I'm sad and frustrated because I'm trying to please her too and it can't be done.
Fortunately, God blessed us with an amazing dad who lived well, loved us a lot and left an enduring legacy of faith. I would be lying if I said my only motivation was to follow God in serving Mom. The truth is that when I see Dad again I want to be able to tell him that no matter how hard it was, no matter how thankless the task and no matter how many people believed my mom's delusions and lies, I kept my head up high, followed God, and served despite the cost, just like he taught us by his example.
Melissa. I am 23 and I lost my Dad 4 years ago. When I was 18. However, I was found by the Father of the fatherless when I was 21. I still ache when I think about walking down the aisle of my marriage ceremony by myself… but then I'm not really by myself….My Heavenly Father will be escorting me. Always.
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I don't ever think i knew there were more verses to Jesus loves me. how sad is that?! and piper's comments, WOW!!! God continually astonishes me daily! Thanks again for sharing!
Holly in SC
When my father passed away I realized that he was now gone from his role as my father and received into the hands of our heavenly father. I had a revelation that he was a child of God and now Father God would take over the role of "father" in my life. What a beautiful post! Thank you.
I just spent the last hour and a half reading over these stories. I placed my hands on the computer screen and prayed for many of these Siestas and their situations. I have tears even as I type. Tonight, "Blog World" became very real to me. I am blown away.
All I hear the Spirit saying is,
"Hold on just a little while longer. It will all be so worth it. You will know and experience and have more love than you could ever imagine. Hang on for He is coming back soon."
Let it be, Dear Jesus.
Siestas, I love you. I really do.
And there are many who are praying for you tonight so sleep soundly and peacefully in the arms of Jesus. Yes, Jesus loves you!
God binds up the brokenhearted and heals their wounds.
Thank you for your thoughts today. I could hardly believe the title when I saw it. Just today this song came to mind, haven't thought of it in a very long time. How mysterious the ways of the Lord.
That verse has been a favorite of mine and now even more so. Will ponder much on your comments. Thanks for exercising my brain muscle.
Love you!
Thank you for this! The Lord has been ministering to me in this area lately…He is my Father AND my mother. I lost my dad Jan 31, 2005 and then my mom unexpectedly in May 2005 – I was 28.
Orphaned in the physical, but not in God's eyes.
My husband of 6 years was diagnosed with cancer in Nov. 08. We just completed chemo. I really grieved the loss of my parents and their care for me during this time.
But I am learning in new ways everyday how HE loves me and cares for me.
He is all-sufficient, loving, compassionate, powerful, merciful, and my Protector. He knows me better than my parents ever could have –
What an amazing God we serve.
Thank you for your post.
You could not have hit on a bigger sore spot….at this point it is a gapping wound in which God refuses to stop the bleeding. I've never experienced the comforting embrace of a loving mother or the joy of being "daddy's little girl." Instead it was one rejection after another…and continues to be. In coming to Christ I have tried to allow His love to be enough, but having to exist in a world where everyone but me seems to have someone, and with a God given disire for human connecton, makes it very difficult. But I was making progress. I finally came to a place where I could run from the hurts of the world and find sanctuary in His loving embrace. I had finally found my "daddy." Then He went quiet. I know He's there, but it's by evidence of His presence in events, not His embrace. I know He is doing a work in me, but for now it simply feels like rejection…it compounds the hurt that He is supposed to comfort.
What an insightful post. Your analogy of loneliness and being orphaned was rather interesting to hear as well. I reccently stumbled on this blog where a 14-yr-old is talking a stand…rather, a walk…to raise awareness of the plight of homeless children. Maybe you've heard of it?
helpingstepbystep.blogspot.com.
He has a website too:
http://www.helpingstepbystep.com.
The "theme" god has been pulling up lately is the idea of our relative abundance. Even without "wealth" by our own definition, we are able to fully partake in worldy goods and pleasures, and often take for granted the things and pepole who surround us.
Your post is such a good reminder of the gospel, and of Jesus' love promise, and sustaining provision.
You Know a lot of times I thank god for not leaving us orphaned. Both my parents are gone and I lost my husband 8 1/2 years ago. I am so very thankful. I decided that since I was no longer a child of earthy parents or the wife of a man I needed to find out just who I was . That is what I have been doing for the last few years. And you now who I am. I am a child of the Most High God . He is so faithful to me When my husband first got sick I told the Lord I was giving Him the whole thing I could not do this. I used to give things to God and then take them back !! Or go ahead and proceed on my own to fix what ever it was. Not ususally a good idea but it just took me a while to figure that out. like 50 years. !! I'm almost 59 now and so enjoying the ride, being a child of God who loves me. I have finally figured out being who God made me to be is by far the greatest. I'm still learning but I can so see Him working in and around. I just know that I know that I know He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do, and I am who He says I am. 🙂 Sounds like I've been listening to that Beth Moore some don't it.
Anyway I am totally dependent on God and I know He takes care of me and loves me. It boggles my mind .
My last few memory verses have been some that tells me how much God loves me.Just another comformation. Thanks. Jesus does love us so much.
Pam in Indiana
When my hubby moved us to Minneapolis I had to leave mama. And then I got pregnant with our first child. I spent the entire pregnancy sick,cold (it was Minnesota!!!), and missing mama. When it was time to have him I was determined he wouldn't show til Grandma showed! My Daddy said she drove like a maniac the whole way. I remember the only thing that kept me calm through the contractions was singing and humming Jesus Loves Me. And then mama showed up and my husband was relieved that we could "finally have this baby!" We ended up having 4 children in five years – in three different states! And I didn't deliver any of them til mama showed up. My mama's not perfect and I've had some major "stuff" to break free from but she loves the Lord. I encourage everyone reading to forgive mamas and daddies. It's a hard job and only God does it perfectly. Besides, you reap what you sow and I want my babies to forgive me for all of my imperfections when THEY are 30. And I bet Keith Moore will be saying, "Your mother drove like a maniac!" when you are blessed with your first baby, Melissa! God bless.
Melissa,
I don't even know what to say to you…other than what you wrote was very comforing and came at just the right time for me.
Susan
England, U.K.
To Stephanie,
I will pray for your friend in Baylor. Ten years ago last month I sat in a PICU beside my 8 yr. old daughter's bedside. She also had been in a vehicle accident. It is the deepest agony there is.
Would you please keep us posted or send us the link to her CaringBridge page?
Thanks Melissa for this post. During my daughter's homegoing is when God really sealed my understanding of He as my Father and I as His child. I also came to finally fully grasp that His grace is sufficient. He is AMAZING, His love is AMAZING….oh how wonderful beyond words it is to belong to Him.
Love you…
During my prayer time this morning, I began to worship the Lord. The song – I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and I wonder how he could love me, a sinner condemned unclean came to mind. As I continued to worship, I sang another song my mother used to sing called I just want to praise you Lord. Just then, I stopped and wrote a quick thank you note to my Mom and Dad for following Jesus all these years and leaving an example for me and my siblings. After doing this, I came to the blog to see if I can post my memory verse and there was this blog!!!! I could not believe it. Oh how God leads! I thank you for sharing this. Sincerely – from Ola in Virginia God bless you.
Wow!!! Those are some powerful words. I have struggles with my mom, and I needed to hear that today. Someday I too will be orphaned, and I want the rest of the time tp be great.Thank you so much Melissa. I bet your conversations with your mother are awesome. WHat women of god you all are.
Thank you Melissa! No more truth has been any more real to me than this one. I have had to look to Him as all that I have for years now and yes while others are there like my husband, my sould cry can really proclaim with truth: "There are None Like YOU O, LORD. None."
I love you girl!!
Melissa this is such a beautiful, beautiful post.
It moved me as a daughter, a mother, and more importantly a child of God. Thank you for sharing what was placed upon your heart.
Oh how I pray that I can truly know with every inch of my being that I am a child of God.
Linda – I was beyond moved that you were able to sing "Jesus Loves Me" to your mother when she was dying. How powerful and what a sweet blessing that must have been to her.
Wow. Just reading this blog post brought me to tears.
I am married to a wonderful man of 11 years and I often think about what is going to happen to me if he dies before me?? My mom died when I was 7, my older brother committed suicide when I was 17 and my dad died at 18. I have a younger brother who is addicted to drugs. I do not have children and will not ever have children. I know that if something were to happen to my husband I would be all alone in the world. I worry about what is going to happen to me when I am old and can't take care of myself and my husband is gone. I have friends but no one that I can rely on like I could if I had a mother or father.
I often get angry at God because he took both my parents. My brother..well, he took his own life. I wonder why couldn't God have just left me one? Just one? So many people hate their parents, don't appreciate them, etc. Well, I would just like to have 1. So, if you are on here and are estranged from your parents…make a move to repair that relationship if possible. Be grateful, be thankful.
I know, I know – I have Jesus and that is all I need but sometimes I just want a mom to talk to about things. Sometimes I want a dad who loves and cares about me and will wrap me in his arms. People that are here, that I can physically touch and feel.
Thanks for reminding me that Jesus loves me. Also for bringing me to tears at 8am on a Wednesday morning sitting at my desk. 🙂
You can go to YouTube.com and type in Christy Nochels-Jesus Loves me and hear her sing this. It's beautiful. Thanks for sharing Melissa.
I have felt that loneliness. I remember when my husband and I separated and the boys and I were in our new home, the first night, I woke up in the middle of the night and remembering I was alone, no husband anymore. Panic set in for a second and during those times I came to realize that when God says, I will never leave you or forsake you…he means it. It was through that time that my relationship grew with Christ and I would much rather say a sweet romance of the soul. I can't even begin to tell you the fun we had and the countless hours we spent together in His Word while I sat at my kitchen table or on my deck. He is amazing and though my marriage ended, though friends have left, God has never once left and he is truly my best friend. 🙂
Love you,
Patty
This is just perfect. Yes, there is no comparison to your Abba's love for you. This is perfect, just perfect.
I just met a man who worked with my dad about 7 years ago and reminded me of a story I had forgotten. He remembered my dad fondly. It was such an unexpected comfort, one I didn't know I needed.
You never do get over the loss of your parents. I know that. You do heal, and you do go on and you do get to enjoy life, after the grief. But you also get to rest in the arms of your Abba, knowing that you are adored and He will never let you go. There is no greater gift than to know that you are Abba's little girl.
Thank you for blessing me.
I have tears streaming down my cheeks.
Precious post Melissa!
My parents are 75 and 78 and I can't imagine losing them. I can't even wrap my mind around what it will be like with either/both gone.
We sing "Jesus Loves Me" at church … big church 🙂
every now and then. In fact, we sang it Sunday. I just remembered because our song leader was doing the sign language to it. Grown ups need to hear this song often. We need to be reminded how much He loves us.
I came across a sign at an art and crafts show recently that said "Jesus Knows Me, This I Love."
I thought that was really cool. It goes along with my Scripture memorization Ps. 139.
And, a friend surprised me the other day with a little frame that has a mirror on it with that saying on it. She had heard me talk about it and made it for me.
Thank you, Melissa. I loved this post.
Melissa,
Thanks so much for posting this. Only He knows how much I needed it!
Tami in LA
Thank you for posting this. Thank you for being open to exploring God in this very public forum.
and yes, there are some things that "can only be learned on a field trip" as your dear mama says.
Deirdre
So thankful I am His, thankful for His patience with me and for this amazing post!!
My husband and I discussed this scripture on Sunday night with a young man. My husband reminded him how most people just stop at, "We should be called children of God" and never get the, " And that is what WE ARE."
For me, one of the hardest truths to really grasp is the Father/child relationship with God. Savior came easy, even love, passionate husband relationship with Jesus followed a long. But to truly understand God as my loving Father who always sees me through the blood of the Lamb and I dont have to earn His love….that one blows my mind. It sounds silly even as I type it bc I KNOW what the Word says but some days I dont feel like it.
Thank you Lord that you would continue to give greater revelation through your Holy Spirit that that is what I am…your child.
What an awesome post!
Thanks Melissa!
I grew up in a conditional love environment. I could never fully trust my mother. Her motives were not pure in many ways. She was verbally and physically abusive. Her words were her favorite weapon.
As a child, I vowed that my own children would not live like that.
(they haven't)
Fast forward…
I grew up…married a preacher's son….he later surrendered to ministry and became a pastor….we had 3 of the most amazing children (all teens now) and then I struggled with self worth.
Over the years….and it has taken me day by day to grow…. I have had to learn of that unconditional love that Christ has for me.
Yes Jesus does love me….
I minister to women……who have experienced much of the same abuse.
Mother's have a great responsibility in teaching their children about love. Father's as well.
I purposefully try to love my own….with a God-like love.
I don't want them to have a jaded view of Him, like so many do.
Bless ya for sharing!