From the time we plug in the baby monitor, it begins. My great grandmother said that from the time her children’s eyes opened to the time she closed hers, she’d worry. Such an Italian thing to say!
It’s been 20 years since my daughter came into the world demonstrating her perfect lungs. I remember the first time I put her in the car all by myself… only minutes down the road she began to wail. Anxiously, I pulled over and solved the mystery. Hannah’s cute, velvety snowman hat had slid down her face and was covering her nose.
I’d be crying too! It broke my brand new mom heart. When your child is born, so is your mother hen instinct. They grow from fresh and fragile to messy with big feet, but still you want to protect them and keep them from all harm.
I raised my babies predominantly in Matthews, North Carolina. Every Christmas, the town hangs wreaths on the lampposts. Folks eat funnel cakes at the fair on Labor Day. My kids played in the creek and went on adventures at Squirrel Lake Park.
It’s a sweet, American town we haven’t lived in for years. And while I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that a student shot a young man at the local high school this morning, I wanted to wrap my arms around the dear friends who were posting on Facebook that their kids were alright. Thank God, I scrolled and thought repeatedly.
What if we hadn’t moved and my kids had been there? What if I get that call one day, like my dear friend Katie got today? How do we trust God and calm down our inner mother hen?
A year ago, I watched my son almost die from ulcerative colitis. Josh is healthy today, praise the Lord, but I learned some stuff while on the brink of almost losing my 17 year old.
God has no grandkids. There is not a nanosecond that God abandons us or our kids in the darkest hours of our lives. In the hospital at 3 AM and in other moments in hindsight, I discovered the biblical promises are true: God is with us and He will never leave us.
I try very hard to turn the mind twisting “what ifs” into “EVEN IFS.” Worrying gives way to fear. Trusting God gives faith the upper hand. I’ve had to say over and over in my life… Lord Jesus, EVEN if the worst thing happens, You will be there. You will help me. You will be with my child.
We are not in control, but we are deeply loved by the One Who is. And He is good. In this world, we WILL have trouble…God warned us. But everything that happens must pass through His nail-scarred hands. I can attest that He wastes not a single tear or heartache. So tell your inner mama hen to relax in His love. And I will too.
