Even The Children Not Yet Born

Ernie and I “inherited” a beautiful, old, heirloom framed cross-stitch picture of the Lord’s prayer that for as long as I can remember hung in my grandparents’ home. We do not know how old it is or who created it…all we know is that my mother remembers it hanging in her grandparent’s home. I wish I could show it to you! Someone put a lot of time and love and creative juices into this beautiful piece of art.

To me, however, it is more than art. It is more than cross stitch. It is a symbol of God’s faithfulness. I do not know of any followers of Christ in my ancestry but I believe that there was a woman in my genealogy who walked with the Lord. Who knew Him…not just knew about Him. I can see her sitting beside a flickering candle sewing long after the chores were done and the children were in bed. Not only is she sewing, but I can see her lips moving in prayer. Praying for her husband. Praying for her children…for the one who is running hard after the world. Praying for the one whose heart has hardened towards the things of God and has chosen a path that breaks her heart and the heart of God.

I also hear her praying for me. She knows the Word of God well and she is obedient to the command in Psalm 78, “We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord…so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born…”

Many of you have children who are following hard after Christ. They are lovers of God and lovers of His Word and you are blessed indeed. Many of you, on the other hand, have children who are wandering in the wilderness, who have been swept up in all of the glamour and fun the world has to offer and your heart breaks. I have cried with many of you, prayed for you and know your stories.

I am not sure how to express this….but I know that the Mother’s Day “season” can be difficult for lots of women for lots of reasons. Infertility. Loss of child. Loss of mom. Difficult relationship with child/mother. The list could go on and on and I wish I had an easy, quick fix for you, but I do know the One who provides all comfort, strength, power and joy in the midst of pain. The One who is Faithful.

If we are not careful, we can get our focus so much on today….on our children and our grandchildren….our situations and our pain that we neglect to think about, pray for, invest in “the next generation…even the children not yet born.” Oh, ladies….just think, we can have an impact on little girls and boys generations from now!! Pray for the “children not yet born”! Perhaps that is why you are walking with the Lord right now! Someone decades ago prayed for you….just as I believe someone did for me!

Father, comfort my sister who is burdened for her child. Fill her with your peace, your power and your wisdom. Move in that child’s heart….bring them to You. May we have an impact on generations yet to come....In Jesus’ name. Amen.