5 Guidelines to Embrace for Doing Life Today ~ Care Deeply
- Candyce Carden
- May 9, 2023
- 3 min read
Thanks for being here!
The winner of last week’s book giveaway is J. D. Wininger. J.D. won a copy of LuAnn Edward’s newest novel, Our Faithful Love. Congratulations J.D.! You will find this week’s book giveaway and directions for entering the contest at the end of today’s post.
This week we’re on Part 4 of the lovely benediction: Care Deeply.
As you go...Live SimplyLove GenerouslySpeak TruthfullyCare DeeplyPray DailyAnd leave the rest to God.
Care Deeply
“I didn’t realize how deeply I’d love her,” I confided to my husband as I cradled our newborn baby.
“It seems she’s always been a part of us,” he agreed.
When I thought about this week’s post, I associated the words care deeply with the words overpowering love. The overwhelming love a parent feels for his or her child is an example. But according to Bible dictionaries, care and love are not the same.
Care (3199):
concern; to care about
especially paying attention to
forethought, giving thought to
taking an interest with the implication of some apprehension
This biblical definition of care applies to parents in a big way, however. How we focus on our new little beings. How much forethought and planning goes into their care as we raise them. Taking special interest in each new addition to the family becomes a central concern. And of course, anxiety is involved, especially with a first baby!
In honor of Mother’s Day this week, a mother’s love is used to illustrate the meaning of care deeply. A caring mother illustrates God’s love for us and is a child’s first introduction to the sacrificial love of God
A mother’s loving [care] is a veil of softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
King Solomon understood how deeply mothers care.
Two women approached him, each claiming a baby as hers. To determine which woman was telling the truth, Solomon asked for a sword. He then ordered his official to “Cut the baby in half!” Turning to the women, he said, “That way each of you can have a part of him.”
“Please don’t kill my son!” one of the women screamed. Just give him to her.”
The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have a baby.”
Solomon gave the baby to the first woman. In his wisdom, he knew the mother would never consent to her child being killed (1 Kings 3:16-28).
Did you sense the concern in the words of the baby’s mother? The biblical definition says care is not without apprehension. We are anxious about what we care for. The greatest source for anxiety, I’m convinced, is our children and grandchildren. We worry about them. We want to keep them from emotional and physical harm.
God also wants to protect His children from pain and distress, too. We are invited to cast our cares on Him. He cares for us so deeply that He wishes to carry our burdens.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
(1 Peter 5:7 NLT)
Parents continue to experience apprehension regarding their children even after they’re grown because we never stop caring for them. The best thing to do when anxiety strikes is to give it to God.
Happy Mother’s Day to all. Fill your day with joy, not apprehension.
This Week’s Giveaway
Growing a Mother’s Heart by Karen Whiting. How I wish I’d had this book when my children were younger. It’s filled with hope and encouragement to grow a mommy’s heart. Each weekly reading includes an opening prayer, daily devotional thoughts focused on a biblical mom, a mom from history, and three contemporary devotions, along with wisdom from future moms (our children).
You know someone who will love it, including yourself. It makes a wonderful gift for mothers, young and old.
To enter, simply share a comment on today’s post below. If your name is drawn, I’ll contact you for your delivery address.
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