{"id":13344,"date":"2021-09-01T13:42:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T19:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mops.org\/?p=13344"},"modified":"2021-09-01T13:42:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T19:42:00","slug":"https-blog-mops-org-walk-in-power-a-mothers-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themom.co\/fr\/https-blog-mops-org-walk-in-power-a-mothers-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Walk In Power: A Mother\u2019s Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rizpah\u00a0was a mother.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0the first thing you need to know about her, because once you know that, you will immediately understand the rest of her story. She had two sons with King Saul \u2014\u00a0Armoni\u00a0and Mephibosheth. She was one of the king\u2019s concubines, a norm in ancient Israel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Though she was little more than a commodity, we read her name and her story in the Old Testament.\u00a0Here\u2019s\u00a0why:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As payment for their father\u2019s war crimes,\u00a0Armoni\u00a0and Mephibosheth\u2014along with five other male family members\u2014were\u00a0taken\u00a0and hanged at the highest point in the city so that all could see. Not only were they executed, they were denied a proper Jewish burial, which withheld honor and dignity to them in death.\u00a0Rizpah\u00a0was not having it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She climbed the hill to her sons\u2019 bodies and held a vigil for them, protecting their bodies from elements and animals until they were given the burial they deserved.\u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rizpah\u202fdaughter of\u00a0Aiah\u00a0took rough burlap and spread it out for herself on a rock from the beginning of the harvest until the heavy rains started. She kept the birds away from the bodies by day and the wild animals by night.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0
\u00a0
2\u00a0Samuel 21:10, MSG\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many artists have depicted this scene.\u00a0Rizpah\u00a0fighting off giant birds of prey in the foreground \u2014 grieved and determined \u2014 while seven bodies hanged behind her. You can see something in her eyes you probably recognize.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have loved this story for years.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0so grizzly, and yet I always come back to it. To me, this story \u2014 more than any other I have ever heard \u2014 most accurately captures the heart of a mother.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rizpah\u00a0camped on that hill for months. She did so through threat of harm and exposure and during a devastating famine. She sat vigil for her children until her tireless advocacy finally caught the attention of King David. He heard of her protest and\u00a0was moved\u00a0to collect the bones of Saul and Jonathan, along with the bones of these seven men. He gave them the proper Jewish burial\u00a0Rizpah\u00a0had been fighting for.\u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is at the point of the burial that the famine in Israel\u00a0is lifted.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The word\u00a0<\/span>power<\/span><\/i>\u00a0means influence, ability to, capacity to.\u00a0Rizpah\u00a0showed her power, even though she herself was little more than property, to move the heart of leadership to protect and provide for her beloved sons, and to move the heart of God to end the famine and relieve the suffering of many.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her heroism was her presence. Her superpower was her love.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She did what mothers do. She went to her children. She sat beside them. She protected them. She fought for them.\u00a0Rizpah\u2019s\u00a0name means \u201ccoal\u201d or \u201chot stone\u201d or \u201clive coal.\u201d Yep. I get that. You want to see a white-hot\u00a0center?\u00a0Mess with a mom\u2019s child.\u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I share the story of\u00a0Rizpah\u00a0with you to remind you of something you already know: You hold great power in your hands as a mother.\u00a0But\u00a0here is what I want you to remember: The power is not in your scheduling, strategizing or systematizing. The power is not in your household management, organization or chore charts. The power is not in your sleep training, discipline model or meal plan. The power is not in something you can figure out or make happen.\u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your power as a mother is in your love. Your fierce, undiluted, hot-coal love. With all the images and messages of \u201cgood mothering\u201d confronting us constantly, it can seem almost irresponsible to believe that love is the single greatest gift we can give.\u00a0Or\u00a0that love could possibly be enough.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My love is here.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

My love is enough.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

God\u2019s love is present in me,\u202falready, and it flows through to my kids every single day.\u202fAlready.\u202fThis love is more than enough. In fact,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the single most important thing my kids need from me.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your power as a mother comes from trusting that your love is present and it is enough. Will you trust love today?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are worrying about adopting the latest mothering trend, searching the Internet for a new plan or experiencing more guilt than you care to admit, I invite you to stop and do one thing. Breathe this prayer:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your love is here.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your love is enough.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Amen.\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Leeana Tankersley is a writer, mom of three, and hope warrior. She is the author of six books, including Always We Begin Again and her forthcoming, Hope Anyway, and she is a regular contributor to MOPS. Learn more at\u00a0leeanatankersley.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or follow her on IG @leeanatankersley.<\/p>\n

Find a local community of moms today:\u00a0www.mops.org\/groupsearch<\/strong><\/a>
Find an online group here:\u00a0www.mops.org\/mamameetups<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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