A Father With a Mother's Heart

Thanks to Morgan Hildebrand for allowing me to use her chick photos from Priority Ranch, Stafford, KS. Check out her blog, Priority Ranch and see more photos of the chickens and other animals they raise on their farm.

... How often I have longed to gather 
your children together,

 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings ...

Matthew 23: 37

The animal kingdom at our farm doesn't include hens and chicks. But as I read those words from Matthew 23, I think back to my grandparents' farm. Each spring, they would purchase baby chicks and put them under heat lamps in the brooder house until they grew big enough to survive without the extra pampering. When I was a child, I loved seeing those little balls of yellow fluff huddled together. I loved touching their downy feathers. They weren't nearly as cute when they grew up to be hens, and we had to move them out of the way to get to the eggs in the hen house.

Photo by Morgan Hildebrand, Priority Ranch

But even as I remember the pecking and racket of the hen house, I think about it a little differently now as a mother and grandmother - and I as read the words from Matthew. 

While most often we hear about "God the Father," the Matthew 23 verse gives us that maternal essence of God.

The birthing process is God’s idea. He’s maternally given birth to the universe, birth to our planet, and birth to us. Most importantly He’s given us re-birth. Simply stated, He is Father God with a mother’s heart. Waiting to wipe every tear; sitting up with us through the night; and listening to our troubles—solving them while we are yet speaking. 

Christian Author Susan Watkins

Each year, I am mystified by motherhood as we work with our cow/calf herd on our South Central Kansas farm. When we move the cow/calf pairs to different corrals or pastures, we separate the mamas and their babies to keep the babies (and the humans) safe.

The mamas don't realize we are doing it for a purpose. They protest - LOUDLY - when they are on one side of a fence ... and their babies are on another.

They bellow at the barn because they know their babies went that direction on the way to the trailer. Then they move the protest to the fence and watch as the trailer leaves them behind.

It's always amazing to me when it's time for the mamas and babies to reunite. The babies barrel out of the trailer in search of their mamas. 

It doesn't take long before the "lost" is again found by each mama and welcomed home for a nuzzle and a snack.

And isn't that how God seeks us? Our Heavenly Father has a mother's heart.

He seeks us when we're lost. (Luke 15: 3-6). He numbers the hairs on our heads (Luke 12: 6-8). He rejoices over us. His thoughts about us outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139). Isn't that just like a mother?

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom ...

Me and my mom, 1957

and to my daughter. She did the important job of making me a grandma.

 

It's a pretty wonderful job description! I think there's a little Grandma in our Father God, too!

Kinley & me at the Topeka Zoo - April 2013

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Since 1988, I've shared Mother's Day weekend with Brent's birthday. Happy Birthday today to Brent! He's celebrating today by working a Morehead State University baseball game. As far as I know, there won't be any Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle-inspired cakes in the press box. But he did get homemade Chex mix in the mail from me.

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Be sure and check out Morgan Hildebrand's blog, Priority Ranch. Again, I thank her for allowing me to use her chick photos. We have our share of cattle and cats here on our farm, but you'll want to see the menagerie of animals that live at Priority Ranch and the people who care for them. Click on the link to "visit."

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This is a version of my Food for Thought blog on the Lovely Branches Ministries website, where the theme this month is "The Mystery of Motherhood." My friend, Suzanne, talks about the power of a positive Mom on her blog, Heart and Home Matters.  

If you're anywhere near Stafford, you'll want to visit the Taste and See Coffee House, also a ministry of Lovely Branches. Click on the link for hours of operation.  

Oh Baby!

Just like a human mama's role evolves as her baby grows, so does the life and times of a Mama Cat.

Only one of a litter of three kittens born on the County Line in April survived. But the little gray kitty is now venturing out from the hidden recesses of the old backyard fireplace and exploring the world with its Mama.

The two are hanging out in the backyard with the other farmyard cats these days. Randy is diligently working on taming the baby. He is the Pied Piper of cats. The little kitty comes running when he steps outside.

The baby is exploring new food options. 

This last weekend, Jill sent us a photo of Kinley exploring her world in a new way, too. She was a big girl and sat up during a shopping trip with her Mom. (Actually, they were exploring new food options, too. They bought some sippy cups and some bowls and spoons for Kinley's new adventure - rice cereal and water when she turns 6 months at the end of June.)

Isn't it amazing how many changes happen in such a short time? Whether it's a baby kitten or a human baby, life changes in the blink of an eye.

Babies grow.

And mamas are there to stand by and help us learn and laugh through it all.

Well, I'm not so sure about the laughing part when it comes to cats. I think they work on their looks of disdain.

Roots and Wings

If Facebook is any barometer, it was graduation weekend for lots of families. I personally know people who collected their bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and even one who wrapped up a doctorate.

Next weekend, more high school graduates will walk across the stage, collect their diplomas and run headlong into the next phase of their lives.

Good parents give their children roots and wings
- roots to know where home is,
and wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them.

-Jonas Salk

On Mother's Day weekend, we visited Jill and Eric in Omaha. As always, it was fun be together and to see where our "little girl" is putting down roots and building a new life with a pretty great guy.

The broken big toe slowed me down a bit, but it wasn't something that a heating pad couldn't solve.

I will have to say that we didn't get our money's worth at the Henry Doorly Zoo because of my temporary handicap. But we did get to go in one of my favorite exhibits, the Butterfly House. My family's gift for me on Mother's Day? Their patience and their quest to be the best butterfly scouts in the place.

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
- Maya Angelou

Life changes. Little girls grow up. Little boys move away and pursue their own dreams. It's quite a journey. As babies, they reflexively grasp your fingers in their tiny hands. And the letting go begins in increments ... even as early as they quit holding on to your outstretched hands and awkwardly toddle away.

It requires some scraped knees, broken hearts, teenage angst and a little healthy rebellion. It's all part of the journey. And that's a beautiful thing.

Mother's Day, Part II

I got my best Mother's Day gift of all time 22 years ago today. No, it wasn't actually on Mother's Day but the Tuesday after it in 1988.

He's the one who made our family complete. He made Jill a big sister and gave his Dad and me a son.

For the past 22 years, Mother's Day has always played second fiddle to a very special birthday. And that's OK because that's part of being a Mom.

My Peter Pan is all grown up now ...

but on this special day, the memories flood back and I remember the days from the time he was a tiny baby and all the steps in between that made him the man he is today.

Brent's May 10th birthday and Mother's Day always fall within days of each other. Mother's Day weekend usually meant a birthday party with a bunch of boys playing Xbox in the basement.

It meant a birthday cookie instead of cake for my kid who doesn't like frosting (How did that happen with my frosting-loving genes!) It meant dishing up homemade peanut butter cup ice cream after a party with family at Elroy's Pizza.

He's a dreamer of dreams ... and I pray they all come true.


He keeps me laughing ... his dry wit and potent sense of humor can pretty much always make me smile.

He's a reader, a writer, a lover of all things K-State, a college sports fanatic.

Even though he looks like a tough guy ...

He's got a tender heart.

He's the best boy a Mom could have.

Happy Birthday, Bub!