God’s Faithfulness in Life

It began with a simple knowing, written on the pages of my mother’s journal almost two decades ago:

God has called some things to be – to minister to poor children.

In the moments and weeks after reading her words, God began to show me the countless ways in which He had already brought this ministry to pass in my mother’s life. Though she maybe didn’t realize it, it was clear to everyone who knew her:

• She sponsored children in poverty through Compassion International;
• She filled shoeboxes to provide gifts of hope and love to children around the world each year through Operation Christmas Child;
• She rocked and sang to the babies in the Neonatal ICU going through substance withdrawals because of their mothers’ addictions;
• She sewed and packed backpacks for a church-organized mission to provide girls in poverty with school supplies;
• She invited my high school friend to our home every Wednesday after school, bought her a Whopper (with cheese), to enable us to bring her to youth group and share the love and knowledge of Jesus with her;
• She knit baby blankets and bought numerous supplies to donate to an organization that helps pregnant women in need; and
• One that many people might not know – she opened her home and her heart to three foster children early in her marriage, caring for them as her own.

The longer we sit here, friend, the more examples we would find, because her heart was filled with Jesus’ love for children, and she lived it to the fullest. This love was expressed in whatever tangible form Jesus showed her at the moment. And somehow, I don’t think it ever registered to her that she was doing the Lord’s work or that this was somehow part of her life’s ministry. She just loved kids. And she loved loving kids.

With our recent blog series on God’s Faithfulness in Death, many of you stepped alongside me in honoring God’s work in my mother by packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and/or supporting the Baby Medical Fund through Compassion International. And far more than any dollar spent on these endeavors, the words of support, the prayers for God to bring things to fruition, and the joy with which many of you have responded has been humbling and reassuring.

And at least for one person, the conversations have led to a decision to begin a child sponsorship with Compassion International.

Momma Heidi would have been thrilled.

What am I saying, “would have been”?

I believe she’s dancing in the throne room of Heaven, proclaiming God’s faithfulness and rejoicing – spinning around and around, skirts flowing and arms flailing and laughter abounding – at the fulfillment of God’s promises to her, even now that her life on earth is passed.

Friends, if you want to jump onboard, there’s still time. Hubby and I committed to matching (and remember, there’s actually a double-match at play) any gift given to the Baby Medical Fund at Compassion International for the months of October and November – so you can still send me a photo of your receipt right up to the end of this month.

I will say, Hubby and I are delighted with the gifting that has already occurred, and we’ve already met the amount we were hoping and praying to match. That’s because of you all. It’s because of your generosity and love. And isn’t that how God works? Through us, His children? Though the God above all does not need our tiny hands to accomplish His work, somehow He delights to find us and use us there, proclaiming His goodness, His love, and His faithfulness to the world.

Your hands, bringing your gifts, are showing and testifying to God’s faithfulness. For some of you, you knew my mother, face-to-face, and you knew the calling and passion to love children in need to be true in her life. For others, you recognize her spirit, even though you didn’t meet her in this life. Either way, Hubby and I are praying over each gift, believing God will bless it and bless you – because that’s what He does. He takes what we bring, He gives thanks for it, and suddenly He has fed a multitude.

And we, ourselves, are filled. As we proclaim His faithfulness to others, we see HIs faithfulness also to us.

With deepest sincerity, I thank you.

May God’s faithfulness be evident to you today and every day.

From my heart to yours,