In the midst of my self-doubt, as I navigate the murky waters of motherhood, I cling to this life raft of hope. It is the simple statement found in III John 1:4 which says, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Little things truly can mean a great deal, such as hearing my daughter’s Sunday school teacher remark on the progress she has made since first coming to her class or discovering that my son answered two Bible memory questions faster than the older kids in his class. These little moments of joy are the happy rays of sunshine in my day. Knowing my children are finally “getting it” means so much to me as a mother.
With that in mind, I wonder what the opposite type of comment does to us as mothers? Are we quicker to complain and criticize what another child did or said than we are to compliment and congratulate him to his parents? Do we make a conscious effort to encourage a frazzled mom who may be at the end of her fast-fraying rope? Maybe we think, “That mom looks like she has it all together. She doesn’t need any encouraging words from me since I’m over here struggling.” Do we think we are helping by pointing out her child’s flaws to “keep her humble” so she will not think she is any better than we are? May that thought never cross our minds! We ought to be quicker to compliment than we are to complain. We ought to have a kind word that helps rather than a cross word that hurts. If we see a child walking in truth, why not tell his parents about it?
Recently, my nana passed away. My own pain from loss was magnified at seeing how my daughter, who had loved playing piano duets with “Great Nana,” was hurting. A teenage girl at church saw my daughter’s grief and took the time to write her a little note of encouragement telling her in part that, “God does things we might not understand, but it’s all a part of His plan for you.” Reading that note, my heart nearly burst with joy. Even now, it brings me to tears just thinking of that sweet note. I would want to know if my daughter had done something that thoughtful for someone else. I made it a point to tell the young lady’s mother about how her daughter was so kind to my girl at such a difficult time.
As I was working alongside a college-aged lady in the ministry this past week, I was amazed at how spending time working with her made the normally time-consuming task seem to fly by! After being around her sweet spirit and can-do attitude, I was sad when the task came to an end. We went to grab coffee afterward, and I sent a quick text to her mom to share that working with her daughter was an absolute pleasure; it had been a joy to serve the Lord with her.
By reaching out to those mothers, I hope they were given some of that greater joy to know that their …children walk in truth. Have you seen someone’s child walking in truth? Your kind words may be exactly what his parent needs to hear today. Do not hold back on spreading that …greater joy…
by Beth Payton
