Overwhelmed by My Blessings: Encouragement for Moms (Part 9) Sample

Have you ever awakened with a heavy heart and you can’t really pinpoint why?   Maybe it’s one thing, or another, or all of it put together, but none of it should be enough to make you have this feeling. You only know your soul is unsettled, like a dark, threatening cloud. You are going through the motions of the morning, trying to smile and be ok, because you know you should be. Your life isn’t as difficult as this weight feels. 

One morning as I felt that heaviness, and couldn’t shake it, I walked over again to pick asparagus. I was still on the outlook for that menacing bird, the kite. I hadn’t seen one in a few days, so I took a measure of peace in that. At least my gloom wouldn’t be heaped on. 

As I was bent down picking spears, a shadow came over me. A real one. I quickly raised up, wildly waving my hat again. The bird was back! He flew away, but his flight against the brightness of the sun continued to cast his shadow over me. 

A whisper in my heart: “Which shadow will you choose to live under, my daughter? The shadow of the enemy, or under the shadow of My wing?”  

Wow. The thought excited me and blew my mind all at once! I had a choice to make every single time dark thoughts and feelings came over me. Just like that bird shadow, I could stay under the darkness, or move into the light of His protection, love, and grace. I could step under His wing! 

You have that same opportunity each time those dark feelings threaten. And they do; they will.  We are moms. We are women. We are emotional beings created in the image of an Almighty Father who never wants us to live in defeat, despair, or discouragement.  

Under His wing we will find light, love, comfort, glory, goodness, grace, and much more for the day, or for the next moment.  

Check yourself and ask, which shadow am I living under? I have to ask myself this question often, many times a day. It’s a choice.  

Oh, Father. I know that often I am choosing to live under the wrong shadow, if only by default, from not choosing to live under the shadow of Your wing. This moment I change my mindset, looking for the safety of living under Your protection and grace. May I be reminded that I can make this choice each time that dark shadow threatens to overtake me by believing Your word.