The Works of God

Brenda Fischer is Bethlehem’s Coordinator for the Disability Ministry and worked with Caryn Turner to make this gathering for mothers possible.  She provided this report:

The mother’s gathering was a wonderful blessing.  We all arrived at Mary Horning’s home in Savage and were greeted with the smell of apple crisp just coming out of the oven.  About 10 moms came for fellowship and encouragement.  Caryn Turner, our Mother’s Event and Care Coordinator shared a heartfelt testimony and devotion about grumbling in our circumstances juxtaposed with joyfully serving even when life is hard.  She spoke of seasons in life when God gives us more resources to serve than in other times and yet her message was that even when things seem crazy, we must never assume that there is nothing we can do to reach out and bless others.  One mother shared that sometimes just showing up for church or another event can be a ministry to others who know that it is not easy to come.

I don’t have a child with disabilities to care for. I’m sort of on the outside looking in and hoping to understand and learn.  I never ceased to be blessed by the moms living with disability who are growing and strengthened in hardship.  Caryn shared that she wasn’t looking to grow up and become spiritually mature at a young age.  God brought her to growth through a very hard journey which she is still on and will likely be for years.  I don’t want that kind of hardship.  None of us do.  Caryn told the story of a pastor who drug a very long rope onto stage and colored a very small piece of the rope red.  He said that our life on earth can be analogous to this tiny part of red compared to the long rope of living forever.  If our good God chooses a path of suffering so that our hearts are drawn to him, the price is very small when put in the perspective of all of eternity.  What a precious message Caryn shared.  It was not just relevant for parents with a child with disabilities.  We all see grief and pain.   The mother’s gathering was to end at 9:00, but I don’t think anyone left until 10:00.  The devotion was emotional and touched the heart and yet the evening was filled with much joy and laughter.  It was hard to break away.

Since my own bride didn’t return until nearly 11:00 p.m., I know it was very hard for everyone to break away!  Thank you, Caryn, Mary and Brenda for making that gathering possible and being such an encouragement.  God is good to provide what we need in all circumstances!