My sweet husband blessed me for Mother’s Day with a weekend away from the distraction and crazy of our home. He got me a hotel room for two nights, stocked me with snacks and drinks and held down the fort so I could rest and relax.
I have to admit that the first night was a little strange. It was so quiet. I am not used to having so much quiet and stillness. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read a book, watch a movie, take a nap…so I tried all three! I found sleep allusive. The movie didn’t capture my attention, but reading was what won the battle for my time.
I read a lot of books each year. Mostly books on how to be a better mom, wife, or leader. Books on how to study my Bible or grow in my faith. I am working on reading through the Bible (it started off as read through in a year but I think I may be on the 2-3 year plan).
So for this trip I decided to read a predictable and sweet romance novel and my Bible. It was nice to get lost in a fiction book again and enjoy reading the story, but as I continued my study of the Old Testament I was struck by a phrase in I Kings 8. Solomon has just finished building the temple and is putting the furnishings into it. He prays a blessing over the people of Israel that goes like this,
The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.
He inclines our hearts to him. I’ve heard this before, but in the stillness I really heard it. He spoke these words to me as I pray for my kids, he will incline their hearts. As I pray for the families I know that are going through really hard times with their kids, he will incline their hearts.
It’s not my job to say the right thing to my kids so they will behave in a certain way or want to seek the Lord. God will do that. It’s not my job to have the right advice for a mom who is weeping for her kids. God will do that. My job is simply to be available to be used by God. To pray for those who are hurting. To be still and know that He is God.
For the mama who is weeping for your kids or for the life you imagined…
For the child who is struggling with past hurts and learning to trust…
For the dad who is caring for his family but wonders if he is doing enough…
He will incline their hearts.
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Kayla North is co-founder of One Big Happy Home and is considered an expert on childhood trauma. Along with her husband, she has developed training materials and programs for parents, churches, and schools educating them on trauma and its impacts. Kayla is also an affiliate trainer with Trauma Free World, an ETC Parent Trainer, TBRI practitioner, and the Executive Directory of Tapestry. She speaks at churches, schools, conferences, and retreats nationwide.