Pearl Girls: Guest Blogger ... Dena Dyer

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Guest Blogger ... Dena Dyer

Hagar always obeyed Sarah, whether the task was difficult or mundane. She had even slept with Abraham, gotten pregnant, and carried his son, Ishmael. Usually, as long as Hagar kept a low profile, the two women got along fine.

However, now that Sarah had her own child, she seemed bitter and angry.Finally, Sarah kicked Hagar out. And so the servant wandered alone in the desert with her son. Her back ached, her mouth was full of dust, and her heart had never been heavier. She sat down to rest, wanting to cry but wondering if she had the strength.

Hagar drank one sip of her water and gave her baby the last of it. As he began to cry for more, she couldn’t stop the tears. With gut-wrenching sobs, she cried out to God. “Oh, Lord God, please save us! I can’t watch my son die!”

And God heard. With tender compassion, He opened her eyes and showed her a well. He saw her, just as he had when Sarah sent her away the first time—when an angel had appeared and told Hagar she was pregnant.

That story is the first time in scripture that the name “El Roi” is used for God. It means “The God who sees.” God had never left Hagar’s side, and He cared about what happened to her and her child.

What a comforting thought! God sees.

For parents, much of what we do goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Unfortunately, although we have the most important job in the world, there are no award shows for stellar skills. There’s not an Olympics where mothers get medals for “best diaper change” or “smartest disciplinary techniques” (but maybe there should be!). And there’s no bonus for a mom who cleaned an impossible stain out of a sofa…AGAIN.

So we can begin to feel invisible. After awhile, the endless long hours and thankless tasks can overwhelm us. Like Hagar, we feel abandoned. If we’re not careful, we can become bitter and angry.

Don’t forget, though: God notices. God sees. And He promises to meet our needs. When you’re up in the middle of the night, rocking a sick baby, He’s with you. When you rise early to fix healthy lunches before the kids are up, He applauds. When you listen to your teenage daughter’s ranting and stay calm, He smiles. And He will reward you. Maybe not with a gold statuette, but with His presence and peace.

So ask Him for His perspective, and remind yourself that He delights in you. To Him, you’re more than a medal winner. You’re His trophy—and He loves to show you off to the angels in heaven. “See my daughter?” he says. “She’s doing a great job!”

__________________________________________

This post was taken with her permission from her book, Mothers of the Bible.

__________________________________________

As a busy wife, mom, and entertainer, Dena Dyer constantly loses things—but she’s holding onto her sanity (barely). Her favorite forms of therapy? Cuddling with her two sons, date nights with her hubby, reading, and blogging.

When the opportunities present themselves, Dena also enjoys leading worship and mentoring aspiring writers. “When I was eleven, God called me to the ministry,” Dena says. “I couldn’t have imagined then the wonderful paths He would lead me down. I am grateful beyond words to get paid to do what I love—and encourage others in the process.”

Click here to find out more about Dena's books.