Faithful Foundations
// March 23rd, 2010 // Faith
Image: Photobucket
In high school, my youngest son sang in our tiny church’s even tinier choir. I’m not sure if he did it because I begged him to or because he really wanted to worship in song. I will always choose to believe it was both.
He went to practice on Wednesday evenings after grueling football or basketball workouts, and got up for church every Sunday to sing. It was much less of a production than I thought it would be, and he never complained. Yet it was with trepidation every week that I asked myself “Will this be the last time? Will he quit?” As a “jock” and a kid known to have more fun than a kid should be allowed to have, there was a good possibility he would bail on choir and not sing any more. That it would not be “cool” enough. That he would move on. I questioned his faithfulness to his commitment as a mother questions many things in a teen boy’s life.
Concluding. Assuming.
"Oh ye of little faith..."
My faith during that season was a conglomerate of desperate worry over things that might, did and didn’t happen. The sad and stark realization that my baby would be gone soon. The question of “Have I done enough?” hovered relentlessly. How could I be sure that he was leaving the nest with rock-like faith that would carry him and guide his decisions for the rest of his life? (Insert heavy sigh here – you’re never sure). At that time I felt like my own faith was doing a slow-motion erosion because worry would besiege me, often in the middle of the night. The worry was fueled by this wild and crazy teenager in the house. By wild and crazy, I mean wild and crazy.
Thankfully, he stayed in the choir. Faithfully.
"How's your faith now"
There was a song the choir sang, “Find Us Faithful, that always reduced me to tears. One line and one line only has become an earworm for me:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful May the fire of our devotion light their way..."
Every mother hopes and dreams that her children will follow the path of a faithful believer. Faithful to God, faithful to family, and faithful to self. More faithful and trusting than she was. It’s not an easy road, and some of the strongest, most faithful Christians and even pastors I know have expressed moments of doubt. I think God expects that, or at the very least, knows it.
There will be seasons of brokenness and weakened or shattered faith for all of us. Our pride, arrogance and determination to do things our way will always be trumped by God’s plans, and sometimes those plans break us. Much like a broken bone that heals stronger, a weakened spirit that has realized survival comes back with an even more resilient faith.
“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them.” – Charles West
This post is part of the “One Word at a Time” Blog Carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley. Visit the other contributions here.
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20 Responses to “Faithful Foundations”
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I absolutely love everything about this post, Candy. My oldest is only 14 1/2, but I know his time at home is limited and I worry and wonder…
Your site looks great, btw.
Thanks Bridget. And hang on to that teen as tightly as you can!
It’s something we worried over with our youngest.He hung in there through high school, and then came college. But God is faithful, and we keep praying. Good post.
Oh, college…. That’s a whole different post that could practically write itself (but probably won’t). We reach a point that all we can do is pray. And that, dear friend, it how He designed this crazy life of ours.
I still ask myself, “Have I done enough?” I struggle with stinkin’ thinkin‘ at times…my thoughts become filled with the shoulda, coulda, wouldas of parental hindsight.
This is a very good post, Candy…the last two paragraphs say it all!
Thanks, Beth. From what I can tell, you did a great job with those boys!
Oh, I am a trembling blossom of motherhood. I thought I was strong until I became a mom. It’s actually not as negative as it sounds. It’s cut me down to size. Faith size.
“Trembling blossom.” Love that, Bonnie. When you are reduced to “whimpering flower” I have a shoulder for you!
Ah yes — stinkin’ thinkin’ — me too!
This post really hit home and broke into the hardened pockets of my heart!
Thank you.
I’m finding very quickly that I’m not alone here. Thanks for stopping by!
I find myself now as an empty-nester of three daughters asking, “Could have I done more?” Your well-spoken post certainly reaches the hearts of parents who want the very best for our children. What I liked is how you reminded us even when they are supposed to be all grown-up that “he knows my doubts just as he knows His promise of faithfulness.” Thank you for sharing; nice meeting you Candy.
JoAnne, thanks for your visit. I think my 85 year-old mom still wonders if she could have done more. I’m not sure we’ll have the answer on this side.
I can honestly say that fathers struggle a lot with this, too. Great post, Candy.
And you are such an awesome dad, Billy. I don’t think any of us are immune once God has planted these kids in our hearts.
wonderful post, candy.
“the desperate worry over things that might, did and didn’t happen.”
I’ve done that, too. So often it didn’t happen. But even when it did—you know, it wasn’t as bad in the reality as it was in the pre-reality worrying.
Thanks for the post.
I have seven kids and five boys in that mix and there are times I wonder about if they be faithful in anything. Then the other day my 12 year-old son leads a neighbor to Christ….I am humbled. Thanks for honesty sharing your heart Candy.
Peace,
Jay
What a well-discipled boy you have there, Jay. Thanks for stopping by!
Candy, I am sure you laid a solid foundation for all of your kids.
Well, being the kid here… I’m sure you did a great job and your kids I’m sure appreciate what you did more than you realize.