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Spiritual Mothering from AfarPosted At : February 13, 2009 9:24 AM
| Posted By : Sharon Betters
Related Categories: Spiritual Mothering
Mind you, my theme for the weekend was Treasures of Encouragement, messages based on my book where I teach how to be a biblical encourager! As soon as I arrived home, I sent Elisabeth a note in which I tried to communicate her godly influence on me. Within a week, I received a personal response thanking me for reaching out to her. When a young woman complains that she cannot find a spiritual mother, I encourage her to attach herself to women like Elisabeth Elliot, Amy Carmichael, and other women (living and dead) who have helped shape me through their lives, books, and teachings. I tell them to read their books, listen to their seminars, take opportunities to study their lives and learn how to reflect redemption through their teachings and examples. I try to convey this counsel in one of the chapters in my book, Treasures of Encouragement. Months after the death of our son, Mark, I struggled with grief and a loneliness that I couldn't define. I had no new words to describe my feelings so concluded it was useless to cry to a faithful friend one more time. But I needed a friend. I pulled one of Susan Hunt's books off of our shelf, built a fire in the fireplace and snuggled on the sofa under a thick afghan. I hungrily read every word, looking for something that would give me hope for the next moments. I don't remember what book I read or even the core message but I came away with this exhortation: Your circumstances are your platform for glorifying Christ. In the years since, when I have wanted to give up, that core truth confronts me with a choice shaped by God's Word. Though Susan was not physically in the room with me that day, she mothered and nurtured me with God's eternal purposes. Elisabeth Elliot can mentor you through the wonders of technology when you sign up for her devotional through Back to the Bible. I just read one of her classic pieces, A Man Moves Toward Marriage. It's a keeper that I plan to share with our grandsons as they mature. Who has nurtured and mothered you from afar?
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mother's influence in my life and Val asked, "Have you ever told her yourself?" I guess my silence conveyed my confusion (Me personally contact the renowned Elisabeth Elliot? No way!) because Val continued, "Sharon, my mother doesn't understand why anyone would want to read her books or listen to her speak. She often questions why God has given her this calling and she needs encouragement as much as anyone else. You should write her a note and tell her what you think."
As for the question of who, an author or someone from the past, has acted as a Spiritual Mother (or, I'd like to say "Spiritual Encourager" because not all have been women), I will give you a list <smile>!
1. Numero Uno: Elizabeth Prentiss. "Stepping Heavenward." This is my life. Individual circumstances may be different, but this book describes my journey. Sometimes I wish I could write to Elizabeth Prentiss and tell her how much this book has effected me, but she is in Heaven and I will have to wait to I get there to tell her. I have read this book probably over a dozen times over the years. More, I think.
2. Philip Yancy. "Soul Survivor" and "Where is God When it Hurts?" I was just reading the latter again the other day, when I was feeling down. I especially, on this reading, enjoyed his discussion of how important physical pain (because this is my problem of the moment) is to our body because we would hurt ourselves worse if we didn't have pain.
3. Right in line next to Yancy is Jerry Sittser. He wrote "A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss." This was the first book that encouraged me that the only problems that could cause grief aren't death and cancer. In other words, what he said validated my struggles. And this from a man who lost his mother, wife, and daughter in one accident. I was so shocked when he talked about not trying to compare losses. And, I was relieved, too.
4,5,and 6. Matthew Henry, John Calvin, and Thomas a Kempis. These guys help me keep a Biblical perspective on things.
7. The Psalms. Enough said.
8. Elisabeth Elliot, too. I used to get her Newsletters when they were paper and came in the mail and I would devour them. She has a book about her experiences growing up, don't remember the title, don't even think I have it anymore, but I read it over and over when my kids were little.
9. And I would be remiss if I didn't include you and P.B. I had no idea until we came to NJ and the PCA presence is much smaller, how much we benefited from all the reformed teaching we recieved under you both. Fairly often, I will say to dh, boy, we were well taught weren't we? I was having an emotional crisis the other day and calm dh was talking me through it and I said, "Everything I say I can hear a sermon from Pastor Betters." Not that I'm hearing voices, <smile, again> but there were a lot of seeds planted that have borne fruit in my sanctification through those sermons that the Holy Spirit points me to. Quite often, actually.
10. And I would be especially remiss if I didn't mention dh. He has been my rock over the last 18 months. He has read scriptures to me when I was in too much pain to do anything but be ministered to. He was the only one I could talk to without stuttering and forgetting words for a long time. Well, even now.
So there's my list. And now I am going to take a nap!