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Spiritual Mothering
I love spiritual mothering perhaps in part because I am so wonderfully “spiritually mothered and mentored” by my own mother, Ruby Scott. Down through the years I have reached out as a spiritual mother. The Bible stories of Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Naomi and Ruth, show us a circle of GOD’S love. It is an endless circle of giving and receiving.
Planting The Seed
After a retreat I spoke at, Denise, a young woman came to me for prayer. As we got to know each other, she encouraged me to write a book of my own personal faith stories. It was to be called, “HIS Roses And ThornsTM”. It is a work in progress. I had not worked on the book for over a month when I received a phone call. It was a hectic moment; I was in the midst of changing beds getting ready for guests who would be speaking at a Men’s Advance (they declared they had retreated far enough, it was now time for them advance) my husband was leading. The phone call was from another one of my “children in Christ”, Sherri, who told me she had been lead by the Holy Spirit to call me and encourage me to develop a Web Site, provide daily devotions and make myself available on a much larger scale to share my faith stories with others. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. I quickly caught the moan that was about to escape from my lips and reassured Sherri that she had been obedient to GOD in calling me. It was now up to me to be obedient to HIS call.
Obedient To His Will
The Monday following the men’s wonderful “Advance”, I had a talk with GOD. It went something like this. “GOD, I have so much on my plate right now. I can’t imagine how I could possibly do all that Sherri said you wanted me to do. I need a sign, LORD. If it is your will for me to do this, Oh Lord, my child in Christ Janet, who is a creative genius and who has just had her first baby and is working in her own business designing web pages will have to have enough time left over to fit me in. OK, LORD?”
Janet said, “YES!”
I made the call, told my story and asked the question. Janet didn’t take two seconds to say, “Sure, Wanda I will help you. We can get a web page up in time for Advent.” Over the past seven years, Janet and I had developed a special relationship. She came regularly to the women’s Bible Study I held at my house for over five years and I became her “spiritual mother”, encouraging her along the challenging path that is called life. Her faith was and is so strong. Like most mothers, it never occurs to me to ask my children for help. But one way giving is not GOD’S plan. HE calls us to give to one another. When my biological daughter, Shelly, my heart, was making wedding plans, it was Janet who said, “I will design and print Shelly’s wedding program if you like.” What a gift. Not only was it beautiful but so unique that even our minister was captivated and he had seen hundreds in the course of the many weddings he had performed.
Janet And Wanda: Faith In Action
And now I was asking Janet’s help again. What a blessing it has been to form a “mother-daughter” partnership in spreading GOD’S Word to family, friends, students away from home, as well as our military and missionary family and friends here and abroad. GOD moves in mysterious ways HIS wonders to perform. I give thanks to GOD for the gift HE has given Janet in web page design and for the way she has shared that gift with me and with you. To GOD be the glory.
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