On a trip to Women’s Shelter to serve dinner, I had an opportunity to see first hand the difficulty of mothers trying to handle several young children while being under great stress themselves.  Mothers in a shelter have lost their independence, their income, their housing.  They are troubled over their circumstances.  Parenting is a demanding job for anyone, but in this situation it can be overwhelming.  And little children are confused and troubled when they are taken from the only home they knew and placed in a very different environment.  What can a young child do?   Unable to express their anxiety any other way, they cry or scream.

I remember being a mother of three preschoolers.  Now I had a comfortable home, food in the kitchen and a modest paycheck coming in regularly.  But all those little ones were a lot to handle.  My stress level hit new highs.   I can barely appreciate the difficulty of mothering amid the concerns of homelessness.

Now why do I say all this?   The experience has reminded me that our homeless women and children and those in our shelter, need all the support we can give.  Meals, yes, that is essential.  But even more they need our prayers; prayers for patience, prayers for peace, prayers for love, and prayers for counselors who can help them develop parenting skills.  Prayers that they be guided to talk with their little ones, read to them, show them a mother’s love.  Prayers that the mother’s faith may be nurtured, that they may be assured for God’s love for them.  If we walked in their shoes, even briefly, we would have much greater appreciation for their difficulty.

I remember this little hymn, perhaps you do too.  Lyrics by Henriette L. vonHayn.

I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need, and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same,
Even calls me by my name.

Lord, we know your unconditional love reaches out to all.  Help troubled mothers and children experience this love.  We lift them in our prayers.

Judy