The date was Wednesday, October 22, 1997. I stood in the Huntsville Airport with John, Suzanne, Sarah Joy, Rebekah and Christopher waiting for the plane that would take them on the first leg of their journey back to Africa to continue their work as IMB missionaries in Togo. The stateside assignment months had flown by too quickly. I looked at the children and realized that I might not see them for four years. I knew of the dangers of “no health care.” I think at that time I had not even thought about the possibility of an uprising in the country where their very lives would be in danger. Mainly at that point I was torn between two things: First, I knew they were in God’s will in serving Him in Africa; and, second, I knew that I would miss them terribly and that they would be absent from all of our family gatherings and holidays. I knew that I would miss the wonderful things that a grandmother enjoys when she can see her grandchildren often.
My eyes welled up. I had not intended to cry, but I just could not help it. I was sobbing, which was embarrassing to me and not very encouraging to them. Mothers are supposed to be strong, right? John went to the bathroom and came back with a little piece of paper towel with something written on it. He handed it to me and asked me to put it in my purse and not read it until after they were gone. When I opened the message I read the words, “I love you very much. Joshua 1:9”
For 12 years now I have carried that piece of paper in my billfold. What I realized was that I was “worrying” about things that I had no control over. It was God who would care for them while they were in Africa. I had been a Christian long enough to know that worry is a sin. Yet, I was worried.
I am convinced that worry in my life means that I am not trusting God who knows all of my needs and, over and over in the scriptures, has promised to meet my needs. I wonder if I always put him first in my life rather than working on that all-consuming list of “things to do.” Many times I seem to be very mixed up, thinking that if I worry, I am in control. I know that God is in control, and I am not. If I pray more, I am reminded even more completely that my God who was mighty enough to create the universe is certainly fully able to handle the “things” in my life. I need to pray “God, you are quite able to take complete charge of this situation. I am sorry that I tried to handle what was not really mine to handle. Thank you for taking my messes and fixing them. You are God; I am the servant.” I send you Luke 12:25-26: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
I pray for our men and women serving in harm’s way and for their families. I pray for you and your family. I pray especially for those of you who are sick and in need of healing-physical, spiritual or emotional. I pray for your family members who are having a difficult time. For me it is harder when my family goes through difficulty than it is when I am. Once a mother, always a mother certainly holds true here. Please open your Bible, and I believe you will find the words and assurance you need for your situation right now.
I appreciate each of you. Thank you for letting Sew Beautiful be a part of your life. Since 1987, we have had the privilege of bringing this sewing joy into your lives. With God’s grace and your loyalty to Sew Beautiful, we are going stronger than ever 23 years later. THANK YOU! To God goes the glory, of course.
