May 11, 2013

To all women and heroines, happy Mother’s Day!

I’m so glad to share with you the many blessings God has poured out on us. Let me start by saying that I’m the happiest mother on the planet. I have four children: Sarah Isabel (8), Laura Elizabeth (6), Benjamin Judson (5) and, Melissa Nicole (17 months). I feel like I’m unwrapping a present every day, always finding a nice surprise. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me even scream some times; they make me do silly things, like dancing with them and playing with dinosaurs.

There is nothing like being a mother… some of my favorite moments are when they get home from school and I can hear them coming up the stairs, (you would think it was an army); they open the kitchen door and give me the best hug of all, like they have not seen me for days; or they hand me a special picture they have drawn (two hearts with our names in it, or two smiling people holding hands). Or maybe it’s when, as I’m leaving their bedroom after saying good night, they say something like: “Mom, I love you as the size of the sky!” And it just melts my heart.  Another special time is when I lie in bed with them; this time is as sweet as honey, because they really open up and share their deepest thoughts; and sometimes they say very funny things, but I don’t dare laugh, because they mean it. For example, one time Benjamin asked me, “Mom is it true that Jesus is everywhere?” I responded, “Yes.”  He asked, “Is He in my bedroom right now?” “Yes, Ben, He is here.”  Then he said, “He must be a nice ghost.”  I also recall telling the girls that they didn’t have to worry about being in their room by themselves because Jesus was always with them. One night Sarah said, “Mom, can you stay with me? I’m tired of being just me and Jesus.” And Laura, she loves talking about heaven. One night she asked me, “Mom, what is the fastest animal?” I guessed, saying that it was the leopard. Then she said, “then I will pick the leopard to go everywhere in heaven.”

Jud and Raquel Hatcher serve the Lord in Manaus, Brazil. They are part of the “SeedFactory” church planting initiative, which is a movement to plant churches in all 26 Brazilian capitals. Since 2006, 43 churches have been started in 5 states.

You know, being a mom is not always easy. There are moments I feel like entering in the wardrobe, hoping to appear in a faraway land; or sometimes I feel like screaming from the top of my lungs for a minute or two. Isn’t it amazing how those little angels can, in a blink of an eye, transform themselves into little uncontrollable animals? And they usually do that magic trick show when there are lots of people around. During those moments I think, “What am I doing wrong? Will she/he ever learn?” But, despite those frustrating situations we mothers experience from time to time, I know God is faithful and will keep His promises to us. My heart becomes peaceful when I trust God’s words. He said that we parents should teach our children in the right path, and even in their old age, they will not deviate from it. That is why I don’t get tired of telling my kids about God. I’m proud to say that they know all the main Bible stories, and they could tell you very well. My mom came to visit when Melissa was born. She liked to read them stories from the children’s Bible every night. But she was amazed by the fact that when she would start reading it, they would say: “Oh! We know that story…” and they would start telling her all about it.

Raising kids in a lost world is the most difficult task we parents have. And we have to be in constant prayer, asking God for wisdom, and asking Him to protect our kids from the evil around them. But at the same time, we have to teach them about who God is as they wake up, as they eat, as they play, as they go to bed. We have to tell them about how much God loves them and how much God cares for them, and how much God has blessed them by sending His only Son Jesus to die in their place so they can have eternal life with God in heaven. Sarah and Laura understood the message of salvation and they have accepted Jesus and have been baptized. Hallelujah! Now, please, join us in prayer for Benjamin, who is five years old, and needs salvation desperately, like anyone who doesn’t know Jesus. When a child gets to that place of understanding right from wrong, and chooses to do the wrong thing, he or she is responsible for that decision; meaning that he or she needs to accept the gift Jesus has to offer them: salvation. There is no other way but Jesus. No matter if you are five, fifteen, thirty, or sixty years old, Jesus is the only one who can forgive sin, and give you eternal life.

So, as I end this letter, I want to invite you to get to know Jesus. You will find that He is everything and the only thing you always needed. Just trust Him with your life, and He will do the rest. God bless you, and Happy Mother’s Day!

Raquel Hatcher

Jud & Raquel Hatcher
judsonhatcher@hotmail.com
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