The Gift Every Mother Needs
I remember it like yesterday. I was scared out of my skin the first time the nurse brought my firstborn son into my room for feeding in the middle of the night. After making sure everything was OK she walked out and there I lay alone with this new bundle of life having no clue what to do. As he began nursing he strangled and I was sure he was going to die right there in my arms. Fear rushed in as I pressed the emergency button over and over. Of course he cleared out the gunk on his own and resumed feeding. Then came the morning to dress him up, strap him in the car seat and take him home. It was a happy day, but oh, so frightening.
Of course I became more comfortable as each day passed and was especially confident when my sweet mom was by my side teaching me everything I needed to know. She passed on little tricks that I wish every new mother knew. With her wisdom and help, I fumbled my way into this new mom role. She was only a phone call away for everything I needed to ask. “He won’t stop crying, what do I do? He has little bumps on his tummy, what do I do? He has white stuff on his tongue, what do I do? He hasn’t pooped all day, what do I do? He won’t sleep, what do I do? He’s still crying, what do I do?
She always seemed to know what to do and had a special touch with the babies.
Experience had grown a harvest of wisdom to be passed on to this needy and desperate young mom. We think the new mom thing is so hard until they turn into teenagers and overnight are young adults taking care of their own babies.
I hear it over and over as seasoned moms and nanas discuss how their heart aches for their children and grandchildren. No longer can we stick a pacifier in their mouths to hush them or command them in a corner to correct their behavior. Now our hearts ache to see them whole and healthy in every way. When they struggle, we struggle. When they have financial pressure we want to fix it. When they are living with consequences of bad choices, we want to put a band-aid on it. And yest sometime we just want to spank them. If only there was a lullaby that could calm them and make everything ok. How easy it was to kiss a boo-boo and turn the crying button off.
So what do we do now?
I gathered with my Jesus women just yesterday. Each quickly wrote the names of their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews on the little index card that seemed so small and flimsy to carry such a weight. There we lay our cards on the floor waiting for prayer to begin. As I strared at the pile of cards, I could only imagine the depth of all that lay there in the middle of our circle. Sitting in the quiet as the old hymns played, the load seemed to lighten. Just the thought of all of us together interceding for our beloved ones was powerful.
The leader of the day gave us treasures for praying. It was like attending a “new mom’s class”. This is how we pray for our children.
Prepare your heart for prayer. No sin, no hindrance.
Praise goes to battle first.
Proclaim to the enemy, he is no longer in charge.
Pray from praise and power in authority of Jesus name.
Lay all your request before the Lord.
Recognize the power of the blood of Jesus covering all your loved ones.
Trust His power to break every chain.
Watch expectantly for God to do what only God can do.
Suddenly, I got a glimpse of our greatest responsibility as moms. It is prayer. It is taking our hands off, letting go of control and praying power prayers for those we love. Just as we give life to our babies in the womb and give them life through our milk as infants, likewise we now give life through our prayers.
James 5:16 says: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person
has great power and produces wonderful results.“
I was so convicted that my first born and second born, my stepchildren, in-laws and grandchildren need this gift of prayer. I want to take this privilege and responsibility to believe in the power of prayer in their lives.
I had grown careless and shallow but am ready to take up the call to pray with fresh passion and power. With a new strategy in place, each child and grandchild will get a day of the week to be covered in prayer. As I lay away in the middle of the night still not having a clue what to do, I will pray believing God can and God will.
So this Mother’s Day, I am giving all of my children the gift. I will cry out to the Lord on their behalf as if their very lives depended on it. Lord, make me a warrior fighting spiritual battles in heavenly places. (Eph. 6: 10-18)
But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
Psalm 18:6