The Mother Hen

So I've been thinking about mountains tonight. Maybe its the Mexican Swine flu we've all had that has made me melancholy, but as I was rocking Baby Roo tonight I was thinking of mountains. Mountains of laundry. Mountains of bills. Mountains of dishes. Mountains of emails to reply to. Mountains of toys to be picked up. Mountains of guilt for being pissy with the kids, for judging others, for this or for that. Mountains that seem insurmountable. Mountains that cast a shadow and can rob me of my joy.

Now I grew up in Montana, a state that is known for its majestic mountains so I know mountains. I also know the Creator of those mountains so isn't it funny that I can allow myself to wallow in self-pity and shame? Self-pity and shame are dangerous places to linger because they can so quickly become places to stay. When we choose to listen to lies rather than Truth we find ourselves pulling up a chair and putting up our feet. A much wiser choice when we feel ourselves faced with insurmountable mountains of lies is to battle with Truth: I sought the Lord, and He answered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34: 4-5

And while I'm on a roll with my Truth battle, here's another one:
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Psalm 95: 1-7

That's good stuff isn't it? So basically I've destroyed those lies with promises that the Maker of the mountains is caring for me and that if I look to Him, He will cover me with salvation and take away my shame. Even a small town girl from Montana knows you can't beat that with a stick.

Let me leave you with this last thought, it has more to do with mountains than self-pity and shame but its good stuff nonetheless. Two years ago when my Uncle Bob was dying from pancreatic cancer I was heartbroken and doubting my faith. This song was popular on the radio and I made it my mantra. Tonight as I rocked Roo and saw the mountains rising I began to sing it quietly, holding its words close in my heart.

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes
to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
is all of me

'Cause You are and You were
and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
'Cause You fashioned the earth
and You hold it together, God
so hold me now