By Melanie Rigney
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” ~ Isaiah 49:15
A friend and her husband had a comfortable retirement life in the San Francisco Bay Area—a nice house, lots of friends, great church community.
Then, six years ago, they moved three thousand miles east to a place they’d never lived and bought a condo that’s less than 1,000 square feet. Finding the right parish and a new set of friends has taken time.
Why did they do it? Because now they’re within three miles of all three of their children (one has a condo down the hall from them) and all those beautiful little grandchildren.
“We Need You”
Another friend and her husband who were contentedly living in Connecticut in a lovely home got a call seven years ago from their only son and his wife after they’d had their first son. Could the Connecticut couple please come to their place, 350 miles away, and stay with them for a while to help out? Seven years and three more little boys later, this blended family of eight is still living together—joyfully amid the hubbub.
Why did they do it? Because they were needed. Because they love.
There’s wonder and happiness in my friends’ voices and on their faces when they talk about watching when granddaughter Juju helped her brother Tommy with a school assignment, or when little Matt needed help understanding why he shouldn’t say “shut up” to anyone, especially not to anyone in the house.
What a Sacrifice—Or Not?
And it’s that joy, that wonder, that happiness, found in situations that neither of my friends ever expected to find themselves in that helps show me and others a comforting truth: if two wonderful but human women can show that depth of compassion for their children, then we will never, ever understand just how much God loves each and every one of us. Nothing can push us out of the Almighty’s family. God never forgets.
Prayer:
Abba, thank you for always remembering me, even when I am forgotten and discounted by the world. Amen.
Call to Action:
Call your mother today and say thank you. Or your father or your spouse or a sibling or your best friend. Let them know you appreciate them remembering you.
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