Mom Heart Moments #184

We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives.

ONE MORNING I GOT UP VERY EARLY to take a predawn walk by myself. I tiptoed quietly to the front door, but before I could make my escape, eight-year-old Joel came down the stairs, saw me, and asked if he could go with me. For a moment I thought, No, this is my time to be alone, but of course my nurturing mama heart said, “Sure, sweetie.” He held my hand as we made our way into the morning quiet and darkness and said, “I just love being with you, Mommy.”

As we were talking and walking along the country road in the just-breaking dawn, the morning star was still visible in the sky. Joel noted how bright and beautiful it was, so I said, “Did you know that Jesus calls Himself the ‘bright morning star’? That’s what Jesus wants to be in your heart. He wants to be the brightest star in the sky of your life.”

We talked a bit about it, and it was a nice moment —but soon we were back home, and life went on. All these years later, however, he still remembers that story of our early morning walk and tells it when he speaks at conferences. He still thinks about that image of Jesus as the “bright morning star” in his life now as an adult. This was just one moment of choosing to nurture one of my children —to feed Joel with God’s life from my own heart —but that spontaneous object lesson from nature found a place in Joel’s heart and mind that probably will be there for the rest of his life.

Do you have a fond affection for your children? Are you well-pleased to impart to them both the gospel and your daily life?