Growing up in a blended family I only saw what my parents allowed me to see. Being a child I didn’t know the struggles and joys of the head of the household and his wife managing two households. They never told me about the division amongst the children nor did they ever talk about the what seems to be endless bickering amongst the adults. Nope I wasn’t quite prepared for all of this. But what mommy and daddy did teach me- was the power of prayer!
My parents taught me about the power of praying without ceasing. Daddy would always say “Whitnee’ you only need the Faith the size of a mustard seed.” I was amazed at the size of the mustard seed the first time mom showed me in an illustration.
As I got older and started dating and had my eyes on this one handsome, charming boy in particular…oh how mommy would talk to me and give me warnings. Those warnings I simply ignored until after the woes of being married young started to weigh on me. Here I was married at 19, had my first baby at almost 20. I was “living the life” or so I thought. I was broke, didn’t know the true meaning of what it meant to struggle, and surely didn’t know the first thing about raising a child that was yours and wouldn’t be going anywhere. That’s right, though I had 3 step children; it’s a huge difference seeing them every other day or sometimes every other week but having your own where you are the mom was a major wake up call.
I depended on prayer and God’s word to get me through several phases of life and even now.
As I reflect back over the last 15 years of my life and I think of all the joy that comes along with raising 6 children; my heart smiles. It wasn’t easy. Lord knows it wasn’t easy and several nights I found myself down on my knees praying and asking God for strength.
And then it scriptures like Luke chapter 11: 5-8 that encourage me when I think of all that has happened over the years. God has placed people strategically in my life who’ve gotten up at midnight (maybe not to bake me bread) but who have prayed with me, listened to my cries, provided a sense of encouragement, help me face some realities, and who have helped me to cope with change over the years.
You see if it had not been for God, my praying mother, my husband, and this small (select few) of women, a special aunt and cousins; I don’t know where I would be.
At times when I wanted to give up and just honestly say “the hell with it” it was that friend at midnight that helped me to persevere. It was that friend at midnight last that saw the bigger picture that I was unable to see for whatever reason. It was that friend at midnight who always pointed me to the God who I can cast all of my cares upon. Yes it was that friend at midnight who had the same compassion, the same love, the same heart as the friend at midnight who would provide whoever many loaves of bread this person was in need of so he would have fresh bread for his friend who was just passing through.
I thank God for everyone who has been that friend and midnight and I thank God for His word and for never giving up on me and for helping me to be content and understanding and accepting even those things in which I couldn’t understand.
Since I have had to endure many nights of sleepless nights, heartache, confusion, grief, and all other sorts of emotion I’ve come to realize that God truly has been there every step of the way. Like Scripture has taught us, He has been better to me than I am to myself. Oh how I glorify His name and I give Him all the honor and glory for His peace, His grace, and His mercy.
As I continue to reflect on prayer, listening to God, meditating on His word, and continuing to hear His voice God told me to stop and thank Him for all those persons who’ve been persistently praying for my family. I don’t take for granted nor do I overlook those prayers; I cherish all of them. I thank those who have allowed me to pray for you and your family.
I can’t live this life without God and I don’t want to live this life without being a friend at midnight or having friends at midnight. Note to self: learn how to successfully make fresh bread so in the event I need to be that friend; God can use me to bless my friends and neighbor.
If you have any prayer needs today in which I can pray for you and/or your family please inbox me or drop it in the comments section. Even if you leave an anonymous tip providing a last name please know you and your family will be prayed for. Again I thank you for the persistence in your prayers as you’ve have so graciously prayed for my blended family. God hears and God knows and He is answering!!!!!
💜