A pot of her best beef stew, served with boiled red potatoes and cabbage colcannon. The faithful Irish mother was preparing her favorite meal to share at the church's special Wednesday evening pot-luck. A famous evangelist from the Americas was conducting a city wide crusade at her church and she wanted to do all she could to support the cause of Christ in her humble village. As she carried her meal into the church her mind traveled back to 30 years before when as a young girl in college she made a passionate commitment to serve Christ on the mission field. She remembered how she went forward at the end of a large crusade in Belfast; and while kneeling at the altar with tears streaming down her face, she made a decision to go across the seas to the farthest reaches of the world sharing the gospel of Christ. But here she was, still living in the same town she did 30 years ago, never once crossing the ocean, becoming a regular housewife, mother of six, and still attending the same little church. In her heart she felt like she failed God. She often wondered late at night, "Have I wasted my life, am I a huge disappointment to my Lord?" A couple hundred people packed the church full to come hear the man of God. At the end of his powerful sermon he asked people to come forward to commit their whole life to the work of the Lord. 30 to 40 people walked up to the altar, tears flowing, and kneeling in prayer to tell God they were fully his...ready to go and do whatever he would ask. The Irish woman remained seated figuring she lost her chance 30 years earlier. So there she sat, head in her hands, heart broken...sobbing. After the service, while everyone filed downstairs to enjoy the potluck dinner, there she sat. The evangelist noticed her in the pew, warm silent tears still flowing. "What is wrong my dear?", the man asked. "I have failed my God and I will never get those years back. I once promised him to go overseas to serve, to do great things for him, and her I sit. In the same small village where I have lived my whole life," she bemoaned. "Tell me, are you not Mrs. Marshall? Did you not raise four sons and two daughters? Is it not true that your oldest son is a Missionary Doctor serving in Liberia? Is not your second son a pastor ministering in Scotland? Isn't your oldest daughter married to one of the deacons in this church? And are you not still working hard raising three more god-fearing children in your home? Feeding them? Caring for them? Wiping their tears, bandaging wounds, and showing love to their hard working father? Did I not see them sitting next to you listening to every word of my message?" The woman with her head still bent low, in a hushed voice replied, "Yes sir, that is true. But I also am the woman who never made good on her promise to God. I failed him, I have never done great works for him. Never led hundreds to Christ. Never took opportunities to leave my home, settling instead to become the wife of a humble fish merchant. How could God ever be pleased with me?" The man smiled and let out a loud boisterous laugh, "My dear sister, let me tell you something...and please listen well! You have served the cause of Christ and the mission of God in a grand way! You have been more than faithful, and you have done greater things than me. I am just one man, you are sending out six to carry on the message of hope...Do not hang your head. God is well pleased with you." She lifted her head up wiping a tear off her cheek, "But I promised...I would go...I would do great things!" The man paused, and replied in a strong low tone, "My dear, dear lady - - great things are not accomplished on grand scales; like drops of rain, good works nourish the soil day by day. Every day your children saw your love for your Savior. With every bite of Irish stew, every prayer by the bedside of a sick child, and every brown lunch bag made for your husband to take with him on his way to work you were doing great things for God. Not only that, but as your son serves in Africa, so do you. As your son preaches in Scotland, so do you. Your children are an extension of you...they carry your commitment that you gave 30 years ago, and they share your blood. As they go, so do you! Souls aflame with the love of a mother on mission..Now cheer up and rejoice." The woman cried again, but this time laughing. A burden was lifted, and she grabbed the man's hand saying softly, "Thank you sir, thank you." Now, a 100 years later, in a different town, on a different land; this American born son who is a minister at a way side village named Kent City turns to his German mom and says, "Thank you mom for serving Jesus in great ways by serving me and my siblings: another brother who is a pastor, a sister who preaches in jails, two other sisters who love their husbands, and a special sister named Lara Lee. We all thank you for your simple and great faithfulness, we carry your commitment and share your blood." I am so blessed to be raised by a noble woman not moved by hype or charismatic sentiment, but one committed to loving the people under the roof of her house. For loving my father and raising us well. My mom has done more for me than she could ever imagine. She helped make me the man I am today. Thank God for faithful moms!
3 Comments
Dave
9/23/2015 07:24:28 am
I can echo your thanks, to especially my mom who served her whole life and continues in her later years by praying. She studied her Bible everyday, and taught giving her heart to serving her Savior. Thanks to your mom, she raised a wonderful family and I am so happy she allowed them to go out, you are a blessing to me and my church family, and I know she still encourages you in your ministry. I have had several other moms in my life who had an impact. God has blessed me with the wonderful servants he has placed in my life.
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Chris
9/23/2015 07:53:36 am
Thank you dear Dave, a great comment, well timed and much needed!
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Shirley Dreyer
9/24/2015 05:43:00 am
Thank You Pastor Chris,
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