For the Moms and Not-Yet Moms

In honor of Mother's Day, it seems only fitting that we talk about one of the many moms in the Bible: Hannah.

Her story is found in 1 Samuel 1-2:11 but basically, after years of infertility, she goes to the temple and pleads with the Lord to give her a son. If He does, she promises to dedicate him to God, meaning that he'll live and work at the temple. Lo and behold, He opens her womb and she gives birth to Samuel ... who she gives over to God as soon as he's weaned.

This child will become one of the greatest prophets of the Bible, and he's most famous for anointing both King Saul and King David. All this occurs because the Lord draws near to a heartbroken woman, and because she keeps her word to Him.

She praises Him before He answers her prayer and fills her womb, and she praises Him after giving up the child she's spent years yearning for. It's a truly beautiful testament of sacrifice, love, and endurance ...

Which is why I'd like to share a poem I wrote, from her perspective. I pray it moves you, whether you're a mom or still praying to become one:

"Fade"

Giving up

Does not come

Easy

To me

The years have

Faded

Under the distant

Light of memory

Aching for what

I cannot

Have

A child is not

Something I can

Attain

Barren womb filled

By sheer force

Of will

Why You keep me

Empty

I do not know

But still I try

Pray

Cry

For my unceasing

Ache to be filled

Until one day

It is

My pleas met

With a promise of

My own

My babe

For You

My babe is truly

Yours

Oh why

God

Now that I have

Everything

Do You decide to

Answer me

Make me beg

And now beg

Away

The babe I have

So craved

I do not want

To lose him

Worshipped You

With promises still

Unmet but I find

It harder to praise

You now that

I have what

I prayed for

It would be so

Simple

To deny Your

Hand in this

Your blessing

Over my womb

Fade You to the

Distance too

Say this child

Is mine and

Mine alone

But he is not

I know that

Cannot fool myself

Into believing

Falsehoods

Only You could have

Done this and

Only You can

Raise this child

So I raise him

Up to You

An offering I never

Expected to make

Promise I didn’t

Think I would have to

Keep

Keep him safe

Oh King of Kings

Keep him warm

In the arms of

Not me

Raise him up

Strong in You

Praising in the pain

Just like You have

Taught me too

Now I give

Not up

But over

Give control

Desires

Precious child

Over to You

Who makes

Barren bountiful

Strong week

Hungry full

Dead alive

Someday

I trust

That I will meet

My little boy

Your little boy

Again

In Your holy home

With Your

Anointed

By our side and

You on Your

Throne

Oh King of

My heart

You never let me

Down

Fall into grace

For in You

I am found

My heart need not

Want

Or strive or cease

For in You alone

Are my desires

Complete

Oh King of Kings

May this

Forever be our

Song of

Sorrow splendor

Praise pain

You will make

All things good

I did my part

Worked alongside

You

And now it is time

For me to

Fade too

Into the background

The distance of

This son’s life

And trust that

You will

Move into the

Forefront

Focus

Father forevermore

In You alone

May his heart

Adore

Father I pray

Again and again

More of You and

Less of me

Fade me away

Until only

You remain

I give me

Over to

You

And praise

You only

You

For the rest

Of my days