An OPEN LETTER TO MY CHILDREN

In this time of social distancing, shelter-in-place, covid-19 pandemic, my thoughts go to wanting to make sure you, my children, know a few things from my momma-heart. You each have been the inspiration for me starting this blog.

None of us know the number of our days, only God does (Psalm 90:12). So this is my letter to you,my children, for whenever my voice is silenced and my soul goes to Eternity with my Saviour.

Psalm 145 states that one generation should proclaim God’s mighty works to the next. I have tried to do that as a mom. I know I have failed often. I know God’s grace and love reaches far beyond any mistakes and failures on my part. But I have always tried, in my human imperfection, to point you each to Jesus as the solid rock of life.

I have learned many things in my life time, but the greatest is that the only solid rock to base life upon is God and His Word. This is not a trifle. This is reality. His Word is where rubber meets the road. His Word is the foundational guide for every aspect, every struggle, every joy of life.

There are two songs that speak so eloquently what I’d like to say to each of you. The first song is “I Hope You Dance” by LeeAnn Womack: The main takeaway from this song is to go for the gusto – don’t let fear hold you back. If I had let fear hold me back I would’ve never lived, never loved and married, never had had children, never moved overseas to a mission field in the Philippines, never would’ve directed choirs, volunteered for various activities, never written. No. Don’t let fear hold you back. Run at your fears as David ran at Goliath. God provides strength and hope. He understands our struggles, comforts and guides us. His Word is our solid rock.

“I Hope You Dance”

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’

Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

Another song that speaks my heart to you, is “The Words I Would Say” by SideWalk Prophets. Many times throughout the years we were separated as family, either with one or two daughters in the states while we were overseas, or I in the states away from family in the Philippines, I’d be up early in the morning. And what this song voices is what I would do – pick up pen and page, pray, ponder what I want my children to know – which is “Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope. You’re gonna do great things I already know. God’s got His hand on you so don’t live life in fear; forgive and forget (or I’d say, one never truly forgets wrongs but chooses not to hold on to them. If you hold on to the hurts it only torments you.); and don’t forget why you’re here. Take your time and pray. These are the words I would say.”

Doing great things doesn’t mean big, flashy, the whole world knows, or lights-on-broadway, or famous in media – no, great things is doing what God asks you to do, being faithful to the moment you are in, being kind to your spouse or sibling or neighbor or store clerk or whoever you encounter, thinking about others and not just yourself, being and encourager, offering hope and help, being thankful in every moment no matter if it’s easy or a hard time, leaning on Jesus in all your ways. These are the words I would say.

“The Words I Would Say”

Three in the morning and I’m still awake
so I picked up a pen and a page.
And I started writing just what I’d say
if we were face to face

I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord and
never give up hope.
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
don’t live life in fear
forgive and forget
but don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
and I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are

I know ’cause I’ve already been there
So please hear these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord and
never give up hope.
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
don’t live life in fear
forgive and forget
but don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

From one simple life to another
I will say
Come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord and
never give up hope.
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
don’t live life in fear
forgive and forget
but don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
Thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say.

And, I need to close this letter with sharing the lyrics to the hymn that means so much to me.

Can you guess the title?

Yep, “On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand.”

On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev’ry high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

Darkness will hide His face. But He hasn’t left you.

Storms and gales will blow. But He is there.

His oath (His Word), His Covenant, His blood do support us in the whelming flood.

Hope will give way, soul will feel so weak beyond hope of renewing strength, but hold on.

He is our only hope and stay.

Loving each of you with all my heart and pointing each of you to Christ, our solid rock,

Love, Mom