God’s Assurance for a Mother’s Heart

Nothing is more appealing than speaking beautiful, life-giving words. For they release sweetness to our souls and inner healing to our spirits. Proverbs 16:24

A tiny chalkboard hangs on the wall in our kitchen next to our snack bar, strategically placed so that whoever sits there might glance at it as they enjoy their food and drink. I’m not sure how much attention that little sign actually gets, but it’s one of my efforts to bring Scripture to life in our home.

In Deuteronomy 6, we are instructed to, “Memorize His laws and tell them to your children over and over again… Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. Write these laws on the door frames of your homes…” Now, I haven’t tackled trying to write them on my children’s foreheads…well, not yet anyway. Somehow, I don’t think that would go over so well! But I have decorated with scripture throughout our home to remind us of the truth. The scripture verse that’s hanging above my snack bar right now is Proverbs 12:18, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Reflecting on this verse, I recalled a very special time with our youngest son.

Sketch of Debii & her son Sam by @elliebeth.art

When Sam was just a toddler, he discovered the intrigue and excitement of having what seemed like the world’s best kept secret, then whispering it in my ear several times throughout the day, especially at meal time when I sat next to him. He could hardly wait for me to get seated then would look at me with those bright, ocean-blue eyes, and raise his eyebrows while declaring, “I have a secret!” I would respond with a sense of anticipation, quickly leaning in as he cupped his little fingers around his mouth and placed his hand over my ear to whisper this secret. As I listened in great suspense, I responded in utter shock as if I was hearing it for the very first time. The secret he whispered in my ear was, “flower.” That’s it— “flower.” After my instant amazement of hearing this earth-shattering secret, we would both laugh hysterically. He got me again!

His little secret, that tiny whisper, that he shared with me day after day, meal after meal, truly was a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my soul. It is one of my favorite memories. Sam brought me flowers almost every single day in the form of one little word.

As I reminisced with teary momma eyes this morning, it reminded me of the beautiful Word of our heavenly Father. How often He leans in to whisper in our ear and just one word changes our moment, our day, our reality, our life. And even though His Word may be the same, written on paper from thousands of years ago, it is life-giving, breathing “secrets” that present a unique experience every time.

How often He leans in to whisper in our ear and just one word changes our moment, our day, our reality, our life.

In my busy-mom hurriedness, it would have been easy at times to not lean in for that little secret and miss a bouquet of laughter and a very special son-mom moment. It really was a precious tiny fist full of fresh lavender, daisies, dandelions, and Sweet Williams hand-picked just for me.

Relishing this moment, my heart filled with gratitude for the countless ways that the Lord has spoken to me over the years through the seasons of Sam’s life. Those words and promises have been a rock for me more times than I can count, especially as Sam entered his pre-teen years. There were many days I found myself on my knees, leaning into prayer and His presence. Occasionally, Sam was beside me, but more often it was my time alone with the Lord, bringing to Him the secrets of my heart. It became my turn to whisper.

When Sam entered his teenage years and began discovering his musical gifting, I watched his capacity for music and creativity quickly multiply. I had always known it was just a matter of the Lord’s timing that he would discover his bent, and when he did, the enemy wasted no time trying to attract him to the wrong influences. Sam released his first song at barely 15 years old and it quickly rose to over 100,000 streams. I knew that I needed to not only spend more time in prayer, but also needed praying mommas in this battle with me. And, wow, could I ever use one of those whispers about now!

I knew that I needed to not only spend more time in prayer, but also needed praying mommas in this battle with me.

After having homeschooled for a few years, we decided to enroll Sam in a Christian high school beginning his freshman year. At the same time, I joined Moms in Prayer. Little did I know that these two decisions would be pivotal for our family. There were plenty of Monday mornings I showed up to pray alongside other moms with my heart heavy and eyes tearful from the battle for Sam’s life and calling, only to be followed the next week by, “Look what the Lord has done!”

For four years, we continued to specifically pray for Sam’s desire to honor God with his music. And more than once, the Holy Spirit delivered beautiful bouquets: whispered words of hope and promise to my heart. It wasn’t that Sam wasn’t a believer or didn’t like worship, he just didn’t like the common contemporary style where “every song sounded the same” to him. So, he chose other genres to hone including Rap and R & B. As he approached graduation, it also meant he would no longer be in the youth group at church unless he served in a leadership capacity. Worship was the obvious leadership choice…to everyone but him. Of course, it came as no surprise that he was adamant about not being involved in the youth worship band.

Coming from a family of passionate worship leaders, it was heart-breaking for me that our son was so opposed to the notion, yet I knew I couldn’t push or convince him. Only God could change his heart.  My whispered prayers became the cry of my heart. And when it was too heavy for me, our beautiful and compassionate Moms in Prayer group surrounded my son in prayer, creating strong guardrails on his path of discovery and decisions. Sam graduated high school, still dead-set on not being a part of the worship team.

And when it was too heavy for me, our beautiful and compassionate Moms in Prayer group surrounded my son in prayer…

Following graduation, a handful of moms from our MIP group continued to stay connected, praying for one another and especially for our children. About six weeks into summer, Sam came home from a youth service one evening, one that he had originally planned to miss so that he could work on music with a friend. I had encouraged him to wait until after to work on his music, suggesting, “There is something the Lord might want you to hear or experience tonight.” After a little push-back, he decided to go. That night, the youth pastor approached him about considering joining the worship band. (I had not spoken with the youth pastor about this at all.) Sam came home from that service and immediately went to his studio to create his audition video for the youth worship team. Wow, an incredible answer to prayer. Truly a miracle!

Even now, as Sam begins to step into this leadership role and walk in his calling, what I wouldn’t give to have that darling, curly-headed, surfer-looking boy lean in with a “secret” to whisper in my ear, followed by head-throwing-back laughter. I’m so glad I didn’t miss those moments and I am eternally grateful for the powerful prayers of my sisters that travelled this journey with me. God has been so good, and to every promise whispered to my heart during this season, He has been faithful.

Lean in and don’t miss the moment; listen for the word the Lord is whispering in your ear.

• Maybe you feel like you keep hearing the same thing over and over and you are so ready for something new.
• Possibly, you may come to the table exhausted and overwhelmed with so many things and it’s hard to lean in.
• Or maybe you simply don’t seem to have the margin to stop and give the whisper the time needed to hear it.

What’s that old saying? “Take time to stop and smell the roses.” I’m encouraging you to take time to stop and listen for the “flowers.” This morning, you have an invitation to pause for a freshly hand-picked bouquet just for you as you turn your ear towards the sweet words of our precious heavenly Father.

 “Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within; you’ll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God, I’m laying it all out right now just for you.” Proverbs 22:17-19 MSG (emphasis mine)

Pray with me

Father, I recognize You as the life-giving Word, for You are the Word. I ask You to forgive me for the times I’ve become impatient and leaned on my own understanding, trying to figure things out in a hurry. Help me today to not miss the gentle whispers that You speak to me; I incline my ear that I may know Your truth and keep it in the center of my heart. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and lights my way, guiding each step I take. I do cherish Your Word and ask for wisdom today, for patience to lean in to Your voice and stay there until I hear and to not get side-tracked with the daily distractions of life, but to build my life on Your Word, for it is my sure foundation. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Debii McAllister is the founder of Lavender Courage, a holistic women’s ministry committed to leading women into a time of renewal ~ spirit, soul, and body. Her passion is to inspire women to grow deeper in their faith, walk in the freedom and confidence of work and rest, and to celebrate a healthy, thriving life. She fully believes that our lives were designed to flourish, to be “clothed with dignity and strength and laugh without fear of the future.” (Prov. 31:25) Having begun her worship and teaching ministry in her teens while living in Ohio, Debii served alongside her family in the church her parents pioneered and pastored. Over the past 35+ years, she has pursued her calling as an ordained minister, master certified health coach, entrepreneur, and most importantly, a wife and mom. Debii now lives in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee, and when not traveling, serves in her local church along with her husband, Ric, and their two youngest children, Mary and Sam.