The Birth of Trust
I remember watching a baby’s hands caressing the face of his mother. Memorizing the contours of her face, his eyes full of trust. The mother teaches that babe to trust our Lord from the first ‘Amen’ to full-grown prayers learned as his mother prays for him.
I remember the joy of holding each of my four children in my arms, watching them grow up. Is it any wonder that my heart swells with joy whenever my children, all in their 50’s now, accomplish something, show their love and appreciation for their spouses and care for their children and grandchildren. The memories a mother holds in her heart of her children and the way they grew. I remember how Mother read a book to us (before the days of television) to help us not notice the wild western Oklahoma snowstorm outside.
Can a mother be disillusioned by her child as he grows up? No, she knows what is in his heart from birth. She cannot turn away from her son. As she grows old, her only gifts to her son are her prayers and love that last until her last breath. This is essence of motherhood. To my chagrin, I remember when my Dad cried when I brought home an ‘F’ on my report card. His disappointment in me didn’t bring swift punishment, but tears. They hurt far worse. Did he stop loving me? No. Did he treat me with disdain? No. His love was constant.
Motherhood happens in every generation, the exploration of love under the banner of trust. For those two attributes are interchangeable. Without love, there is no trust. Without trust, there is no love.
Grandmothers underline the role of the mother with even more love, the sweetness of unconditional love. The Amen of Mother’s Love.
How can this be?
Psalm 13:5 – But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I Corinthians 13:6-7 – Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
We trust in God, because He is trustworthy. Psalm 139:16 – your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
What about betrayal? What about the husband or wife who break their marriage commitment? What about the son who goes astray? What about families who are split asunder through distrust, fear or quarrels?
What happens? Distrust is a niggling suspicion that grows like an insidious leak, until it is a full-blown gusher of hurt. Only when all parties truly trust God, can this leak of criticism that leads to distrust be healed. Prayer, love and trust go together.
Trust Me, Trust Me Not
Trust is such a little word
Only five letters long
That encapsulates
A lovely love song
A child understands
He instinctively knows
Who to love and trust
As he learns and grows
From the first ‘Amen
To his first step
Holding his mother’s hand,
Secure from any misstep.
When do we lose
That implicit trust?
When just holding Mom’s hand
Is not a must?
It’s when we transfer
Our undying love
And put our Hand in His
And trust our God above.
Comments? eacombs@eacombs@cox.net