It breaks my heart to hear of mothers who love their
child so deeply they decide to give up that child to offer them a better life.
A mother who lives in poverty or in otherwise dismal circumstances may hand
over her baby to be adopted into a privileged and loving home, praying that the
child will experience the security, love, and opportunities she never had.
Often this is truly a self-sacrificing act of agape love, the mother denying
herself the experience of knowing and being loved by her child.
Often the mother’s prayers are answered, and the child
does benefit from being loved and raised by the adoptive parents. There may
even be a reunion someday of the natural mother and child, if not in this world
than in Heaven.
When Moses was three months old, his mother could no
longer hide him from the Egyptians, who were ordered to slaughter male Jewish infants. She
could have clung to him in fear, but instead she set him afloat in a basket, trusting
God for the outcome (Hebrews 11:23).
God not only spared Moses’ life but allowed his mother to raise him as a wet
nurse for Pharaoh’s daughter, and He placed Moses where he would later be in a
position to deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 1:15-22; 2:1-10).
But sadly, a mother may give up her child hoping or
praying for the best but resulting in the worst. In impoverished countries,
families with many mouths to feed may give up an oldest daughter for a few
dollars to spend on the other children, and for empty promises to that daughter
of education, employment, or even marriage. Yet it turns out to be human
trafficking, and realization of this unspoken truth may plague the parents with
guilt and drive a wedge between them. In this circumstance, desperation fosters
denial, and the parents are victims too, yet not to the extent that is the girl
who is sold into slavery.
Scripture speaks of an even more extreme situation, a
terrible form of God’s judgment in which parents can survive in captivity and
famine only by eating the flesh of their own offspring. Even considering such
an awful act is not possible unless the parents have been totally corrupted by
depraved evil and wickedness, which starts with disregard for God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 28:53-58).
But what of situations in which a mother gives up her
child for her own convenience? In its most socially acceptable form, a wealthy mother
may send her child away to boarding school for long periods of time, seeing him
only on special holidays, leaving her free to pursue world travel or a
glamorous social life. Or, a career mom may relegate child-rearing
responsibilities to a full-time nanny so that she can attain fame, prestige and
fortune.
This is not meant to question the advantages of boarding
school in certain circumstances or to say that mothers should not work, as children
can benefit from both of these situations as long as they are balanced with the
love and nurture that only parents can provide (Ephesians 6:1-4; Titus
2:4). The Proverbs 31
woman is industrious and entrepreneurial, making and selling garments and
cultivating fields, yet she blesses her family and household with loving care
and her own Godly example.
The world tends not only to accept extreme forms of a mother
giving up her child for the sake of lifestyle or career, but to celebrate and
applaud them. However, if the child is deprived of the mother’s love and feels
abandoned, he may develop psychological problems and act out with promiscuity, alcohol or drug abuse, or
breaking the law.
An even worse situation would be one in which a mother
wants to please a new boyfriend by throwing her teen out on the street or
abandoning her children, favoring her new (and often temporary) relationship over
the flesh-and-blood bond between mother and child (Hosea 2:4-5). Or, caught in the grip of addiction, the mother
herself is enslaved and abandons her child, driven only by the need to feed her
habit (Proverbs 20:1).
Jesus said that in the end times, evil will prevail to
the extent that “the love of many shall
wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).
The most universally experienced and deepest form of human love is that of a mother
for her child, yet even that natural affection disappears when people deny the
existence of God and turn their minds and hearts over to evil (Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3).
If it has taken you 2 minutes to read this far, during
that time about
4
to 6 women in the United States alone have given up their unborn babies to
abortion, cutting off the life of that child before they even make their
earthly entrance. A survey showed that about 86% of abortions are done for the mother’s
convenience. But the mother’s choice
leaves no choice at all for the child.
These unborn babies are safely in the arms of Jesus (Matthew 19:14; Mark
10:14; Luke 18:16),
but they will never have the opportunity to experience life on this earth or to
touch the lives of others. Their mothers may suffer short-term side effects,
infertility, long-term medical or
psychological complications, or even death. Many Christians cry out and wonder
why God is not judging America for sacrificing unborn children, and yet the
loss of these innocent lives and consequences for the mothers is in itself a
form of judgment (Romans 6:23).
Organizations such as Planned Parenthood may tend to minimize
the risks of abortion and deny the personhood of the unborn child, referring to
them as a lump of tissue. If current rates continue, 35% of all women of
reproductive age in the United States today will have had an abortion by age 45,
according to estimates of the National Abortion Federation.
God knows and loves every child from the moment they are
conceived (Psalm 139:13-16),
giving each of them unique characteristics,
talents, and purpose. Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3-5), designed to bless our lives and to fulfill
His perfect will, and entrusted to our care (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13). But if our child takes the
wrong path, may we have the faith to “give up” our child to God, so that His perfect will be done in their lives, however He may choose to accomplish that in His
perfect timing and ways (Romans 8:28; Hebrews 12:5-11).
Prayer can accomplish what worrying, nagging, and manipulation cannot (James 5:16).
And if children choose to leave us to serve God in
distant locales, may we gladly “give up” that child to His service! Life is
short (James 4:14; Job 14:1)
and laborers for God are few (Matthew
9:37). What we lack in terms of their earthly companionship will be
restored in far greater measure when we spend eternity not only with Christ,
but with our saved children and loved ones!
God the Father Himself “gave up” His only begotten Son, offering Him as the perfect sacrifice to suffer and die for all our sins, and to rise again, so that by trusting Him we might be washed clean in His shed blood and have eternal life! (Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; John 3:16; Hebrews 9:22) May you have a blessed Mother’s Day and rejoice in His ultimate gift!
© 2014 Laurie Collett
Reposted from the archives
8 comments:
Hi Laurie, I have never understood why abortion is allowed to be carried out, and believe that it should be made illegal. I believe if a person does it just because they do not want the baby then they could be guilty of murder, depending on the whole story and circumstances . There are so many couples who are unable to produce children, and who are waiting to adopt a child. God bless.
Dear Laurie,
Back in February 2005, we had our daughters snatched away from us by the State and against our will. This what happens when an atheistic Social Worker doesn't get her way and not having the authority to initiate the separation, she used her diplomatic skills to persuade the Family Court to grant her permission to have our daughters taken from us, crushing our hearts completely.
Throughout the years after they were adopted, we were, first of all, determined that we would stay loyal to God and for Him to be the source of all daily grace, mercy, and compassion (Lamentations 3:22-24.)
Secondly, we always make sure that our marriage remains strong and robust, pouring our love to each other and chipping in when and where necessary.
God has spoken to us through His Word. I'm referring to Jeremiah 31:15-17. It's these words of promise that provide the power to keep our marriage safe and on even keel.
God bless you and Richard.
Amen, Brenda -- I cannot condone the taking of an innocent life, and I believe this is a correct viewpoint based on God's Word. Bird eggs of endangered species are protected by law, yet human lives are not. Surely God has and will judge the world for this form of infant sacrifice. Thanks as always for your comment and may God bless you richly,
Laurie
Thank you for this: " Prayer can accomplish what worrying, nagging, and manipulation cannot (James 5:16).
Dear Frank,
It is truly tragic that your daughters were removed from your loving care by the arrogance, pride, incompetence and cruelty of a social worker. i can't begin to imagine how awful that would be.
When growing up, Richard also suffered at the hands of a such a person, but to a much lesser degree. His mother raised four children as a single parent on welfare, and the social worker would often visit, seemingly to help, but bringing nothing but more hardship. When Richard was in agony over a tooth that needed pulling, she denied him a dental visit, and scolded him for not brushing his teeth more. When he managed to find chores to do for neighbors for a few dollars here and there, she would find out how much, then deduct that amount from their welfare check. Years later the family learned that she had not only been fired, but prosecuted for fraud and embezzlement.
But you and Alex are to be commended for your continued dedication to each other and to God's Word, which has blessed and strengthened not only yourselves, but also the readers of this blog. What man meant for evil, God has used for good.
Thanks as always for sharing your experience. May God richly bless you both.
Dear Aritha,
You are very welcome, and thank you so much for your comment! Praise God that He gives us prayer as a way for us to communicate with one another. God bless,
Laurie
I was reminded by this of Hannah and Samuel, in a way a figure for all parents, the children being brought up for the Lord. And sometimes when things are not as we might desire we simply have to entrust them to God.
Hi David,
God not only answered Hannah's prayer for a child, but blessed her richly with more children after she had committed Samuel to the Lord's service. We can't outgive God, and entrusting our children to Him allows His perfect plan to be fulfilled in them and in us.
Thanks for your comment and Scriptural reference. God bless,
Laurie
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