Daily Devotions

A teacher gave her Key Stage 2 pupils a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M, and I pick up things. What am I?” When the school children completed the test, the teacher was astounded to find that almost fifty percent had written "MOTHER."

I recently came across the following description of a Mother. A mother is a curious mixture of patience, kindness, understanding, discipline, industriousness, purity and love. A mother can be at one and the same time, both "lovelorn counsellor" to a heartsick daughter, and "head soccer coach" to an athletic son.

In Isaiah 42:14 we find a definition of God as a woman in labour “For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept myself still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labour, I will gasp and pant.”

God speaks of his own restraint and patience, comparing himself to a woman in labour who has been silent for a long time but is about to cry out in anguish. This imagery of a woman in labour conveys a sense of urgency, longing, and pain. It indicates that God's restraint and silence are not signs of indifference or weakness, but rather a deliberate choice as he prepares to act powerfully and decisively.

Perhaps the essence of God's patient love can be seen in this quote by Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“The question is not 'How am I to find God?' but 'How am I to let myself be found by him?' The question is not 'How am I to know God?' but “How am I to let myself be known by God?' And, finally, the question is not 'How am I to love God?' but 'How am I to let myself be loved by God?' God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”

God, of endless love, may I love You in all things and above all things.  May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in  Heaven.  Nothing is good that is against Your Will,  and all that is good comes from Your Hand.  Place in my heart a desire to please You  and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love,  so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace. Amen