Monthly Devotional

Loved by God—Barbara

May 2008

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

As a child, my friend Barbara had a dream. Too poor to decorate her bedroom, she cut out the pastel portraits of little girls on the Northern bathroom tissue, taped them to her wall, and hoped that one day she would have twelve children of her own.

But where did she get those kinds of dreams? Her father had left the family, her mother filled the gap with booze and men, and Barbara ended up in foster care. Years later, Barbara’s first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage and she became involved in radical politics, drugs, divorce, and a subsequent abortion. Barbara became the serial addict, alcoholic, and the neglectful and promiscuous mother she swore she would never be.

Though doctors had told her she would be unable to conceive again, Barbara became pregnant, she and Tripp married, and they became Christians. Their family grew— and grew—and grew. And at 44, Barbara had her eighth child. When the nurse placed Jonny in her arms Barbara thought, "God must love me so much!" for God had entrusted her with a Down syndrome son. One year later, Barbara gave birth to another daughter and then Barb and Tripp adopted three boys with Down syndrome.

Barbara no longer decorates with advertisement pictures of unknown children. Instead twelve framed school pictures of her own children, spanning three decades, line the top of her piano.

To the question, “What do you wish you had known before you became a mom?” Barbara answers, “I wish I had known God loved me and had a plan for my life.” Though Barbara didn’t begin with strong parenting models, her Heavenly Father had a plan and a purpose, and He loved her.

What about you? Do you know that He has a purpose for your life? Can you grasp the depth of His love for you? Zephaniah 3:17 says He is with you, mighty to save, and takes great delight in you. He’ll quiet you with His love and will rejoice over you with singing!

In Hosea 11:1-4, God’s loving actions are described in fatherly terms. He takes Ephraim by the arms and teaches him to walk. We read in Psalm 91:4 of God’s motherly characteristics. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Isaiah 66:13 says, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” And Isaiah 49:14-16 takes the most intimate scene of a baby at his mother’s breast, and explains that God’s love goes beyond even that. God will never forget us, but has us engraved on the palms of His hands.

Similarly, Jesus’ love is as tender as a mother hen who longs to gather her chicks under her wings. (Matthew 27:37) Even the Old Testament prophet Isaiah prophesies the tenderness of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)

Your Father carries you close to His heart. And for this Mother’s Day, if you’re a mother of young ones, picture Him gently leading you! He loves you!

“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)

Lord, I am your child! I am loved by You! Help me grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your love and give me the wisdom to help convey it others. Help me to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God and spill forth with His love. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from Your love. (1 John 3:1, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:38-39)

Copyright © 2008 - Ann Marie Stewart. All rights reserved.

Please comment by contacting Ann.