Katy Rose Collection: Art, Words
A Mother’s Day Prayer
The Liturgy for Unseen Labors began taking shape on the living room floor early in motherhood. I sat there with two small babies in a dated rental house in a new town, far from the job I’d just left in New York City. I was grateful but exhausted, and beginning to understand that all the exhaustion-producing work would not earn any recognition in a staff meeting or annual review.
But then, right there on the floor, something hit me. God, if in your presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11), then JOY can be here, even in this. True, deep, exhilarating joy! Joy was not dependent on circumstances but on the Lord’s presence.
Suddenly, any job, whether it was over a kitchen sink or a computer keyboard, could be offered as worship. I prayed to see things differently– to be more captivated by His work all around me than captive to others’ approval or validation.
In the end, we all just want true joy, and that’s found in His presence.
Prayer excerpts from Every Moment Holy III, available HERE.
Friday Hymn: My Father Watches Over Me
Around 1940, Russell and Darlene Deibler had the chance to leave Papua New Guinea before the oncoming enemy soldiers landed, but they chose to stay. They'd arrived years prior in order to share the love of Jesus and that’s where they would remain. They were soon captured and forced to march through rugged country and into the jungle. Then Darlene watched as Russell was taken away. She and a few others almost starved in the jungle where they were held captive for months. Scavenging for food, they discovered a type of seed that, if cooked long enough, expanded and made their stomachs feel full.
As the jungle rain poured down, Darlene stirred and stirred that seed over the fire, singing at the top of her lungs words she'd learned as a child:
I trust in God, I know he cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Though billows roll, he keeps my soul,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.
That hymn, My Father Watches Over Me, was written about 30 years before by a pastor named William Martin. Surely he would have been touched to see those words ringing out in such a moment.
Hymns and scripture provided sustaining comfort through Darlene’s harrowing journey, which only intensified in the coming months in a prison camp. Years later, recounting the horrific and miraculous stories, Darlene shared unrelentingly about the nearness of the Lord and the profound love she felt. She had memorized scripture as a girl and so, even though her Bible was taken, He comforted her constantly through His Word stored up in her heart.
In sharing her story with thousands of people in the years since, she said, “I thank God for every storm that has shipwrecked me on the Rock Christ Jesus. There I stand. “
I first heard Darlene Deibler Rose’s story about ten years ago through a staticy old recording (found here) and have since listened to it more times than I know, especially in challenging seasons of my own life. Perhaps, if you haven’t heard it before, it might encourage you too.
My Father Watches Over Me
Words by William Clark Martin, USA 1864-1914
sources: “Evidence Not Seen" by Darlene Deibler Rose
Hymnary: My Father Cares For Me
Keepsake Travel Journals for Children
We love traveling as a family! To help remember adventures, I always try to squeeze in some journaling and encourage the kids to as well. Some are more excited about this than others, but I persist because my favorite possessions from childhood are my travel journals.
On a recent trip, I brought along a mini photo printer that prints straight from your phone. Each person could pick out a photo they loved at the end of the day and tape it in their journal with a few notes. Such a wonderful little keepsake from the trip.
Watch the video for a little more information!
Printer Link HERE.
Photo paper HERE.
Tiny notebooks HERE.
Another of my favorite travel keepsakes? A hand-drawn sketch to frame at home for a reminder of our wonderful time! Come peek at my instant digital downloads. You can have one framed on your wall before the hour is over!
So, next time you travel, consider this little practice that your family will look back on and love.
Printer + Extra Photo Paper + Notebooks
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