Mother's Day for Waiting Moms

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Thanks to my awesome mom for sending this to me. It's been helpful in preparing for yet another Mother's Day (my second this year!) with aching, empty arms. Happy Mother's Day to her, to all moms, and to moms in waiting like me. Joni and Friends Daily Devotional  May 6, 2012 Greetings!

Mother's Day

'Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,' says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:1 For years my husband Ken and I tried to conceive a child. I knew of other spinal-cord injured women who gave birth to children, and was convinced I could do the same. I planned to turn my art studio into a baby nursery, and my wheelchair into a 'stroller.' I could even envision holding my baby in a 'kangaroo carrier' on my wheelchair. But it wasn't to be. After many tests at an infertility clinic, Ken and I realized we would not be able to have a child. At first, I was devastated. But then we realized we already had a family. A worldwide family. We began to rejoice anew over the thousands of spiritual children - especially children with disabilities - that my story had touched over the years. Ken and I began to pray in a deeper, more specific way for these young people. Almost over night God took away the pain and emptiness of my barren womb. I almost plastered an Isaiah 54:1 bumper sticker on the back of my wheelchair!                            There's a reason for every woman to celebrate Mother's Day - even those who, like me, do not have children. Any woman, whether single or widowed, can enjoy rich relationships with boys and girls in their neighborhoods, churches, and extended family. If you have never given birth to a child, ask God to show you a young person whose life you can spiritually nurture - it'll be a reason to "burst into song and shout for joy." Look up Child Evangelism Fellowship atwww.cefonline.com to find ways you can share Christ with young people. Lord God, I'm glad you take delight when we provide spiritual 'parenting' to children in our sphere of influence. Use me to bring more boys and girls into your kingdom!

Blessings, Joni and Friends www.joniandfriends.org