A poem of thank you after my growing/grown son wasn’t feeling well (he is really OK – no need for worry), and he turned to me for help. At the very end of my helping, he breathed out a heartfelt ‘thank you’ – one that makes a mom’s heart WHOLE.

But even if you don’t hear a thank you from a child, God knows and strengthens you… so keep mom-ing, keep parenting, keep loving. 

The poem – about thanking God… “It IS in the THANK YOU”

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“It IS in the Thank You”

I think that God’s heart must want what I just got.

A “thank you” from a child, from the finish and from the start.

A child grown and yet not,

who just acknowledged that I love them a whole lot.

Oh joy when they expressed that gratitude, 

without past clogging attitude.

Even take on a little humility,

in their grown yet needful fragility. 

A “thank you” heard little child true,

and surely uttered as a grown up too.

That’s the joy in the thank you from children to mom,

And to God from mom, a thank YOU, from His child too.

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Mom moments want both to be needed and to be not.

Mom moments like to be wanted and yet to step back a lot,

Free to step in undaunted.

Yet to step aside and be OK, moms needs not be flaunted.

And then as moms of grown kids slowly slow down from the chase.

Moms mom-ing simply want to know their children are well and safe.

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God moments are different and exquisite.

God never ages out, He’s NEVER far away nor indifferent. 

God wants and needs to be needed, AND wanted. 

God faces evil undaunted. UNDAUNTED

God never did not have His children in His Embrace.

God IS and God WILL help, a gift to us to continue our race.

God gives MERCY

God gives GRACE. 

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Daniel was taking up the prayer of a nation, in the humility of a servant. Daniel could see the people rebelled against God, and begged for mercy and appreciated grace. A lifetime was passing of the struggles and yet they had to sit tight… perhaps Daniel can be an example of knowing that God is in control in the ruins, and praises Him anyway. 

May we praise God in the trouble and in the rubble and look for His Face to guide us into Grace. 

Amen Amen 

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Daniel’s Prayer chapter 9 NIV, v1-19

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom – in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

“Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Amen Amen