A Mother's Love

My wife, Carol, and I waited recently to hear news of a special baby’s arrival.

We watched Travis Fleming grow up. He’s the second son of Charles and Sandra Fleming of Greenville, S.C. Charles is one of my 15 first cousins on my mama’s side. He and Sandra have three sons and one daughter.

Travis – some call him Dr. Travis Fleming since he earned a PhD at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Kentucky – met Jenna Rivera, a SBTS graduate who grew up in Florida, and they married. Travis, 35, serves as senior pastor of Union Avenue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Last Christmas in Greenville, Carol and I saw Travis and Jenna, who were expecting their first child.

During her pregnancy, Jenna posted on her Internet “Facebook” site an ultrasound photo showing her baby – they decided to name her “Kara” – resting inside her womb. One picture showed the baby yawning or burping. The photos were a bit cloudy, but I saw the baby’s features.

On Thursday before Mother’s Day 2010, I logged onto Travis’ Facebook site and found this message he posted around 3:00 p.m. (Central Time in Memphis): “In the birthing room with Jenna; our little Kara is coming a little early. But, all is well so far...just a few more hours and we will see her little face! God has created all things in Christ for His glory!”

Travis posted this message at about 6:00 p.m. (CT): “Hello world; little Kara weighed in at 7 lbs 2 ounces...she is doing well, and Jenna was a pro! Thank you to everyone for your prayers and thoughts....”

Jenna had Travis post this on her Facebook site: “Little Kara is here…all is well. 7 lbs and 2 ounces...Praise the Lord for a healthy, beautiful baby girl...pictures forthcoming!”

On Friday, I found a photo on Jenna’s site. That picture showed a grinning Travis standing beside a smiling Jenna who lay in a hospital bed and hugged a bundled Kara.

I looked for a poem about young parents and their baby and found this one by Barbara Burrow:

“These Are the Years”

“These are the years, the gentle years / the soft and sentimental years / when wee little fingers / reach and touch / and little eyes gaze / with wonder and trust / when you love so tenderly / and so so much / these are the gentle years.

“These are the years, the rainbow years / the quiet, walk-on-tiptoe years / the years of laughter / and smiles and sighs / when both of you watch / with misty eyes / the tiny bed / where a cherub lies / these are the rainbow years.

“These are the years, the tender years / the blissful, sweet-surrender years / when your little treasure / from above / is the soul and purpose / and center of / your plans and dreams / and dearest love / these are the tender years.”

Eric Fromm said, “The mother-child relationship is paradoxical…It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.”

Carol gave birth in 1973 to Janelle, our first of two daughters (Suzanne is our second). As Janelle grew, Carol wrote this song for her:

“Baby Child”

“My baby child / As you place your hand in mine / How glad I am / That I’ve put my hand in the Lord’s / For I know I can’t lead you down / All life’s many roads / And so I’ve put my / Hand in the Lord’s.

“As you get older / And you take your hand from mine / Thank God, I know / You won’t walk by yourself / As you reach out to Jesus / He’ll be reaching back to you / And you can walk hand in hand / With the Lord.

“He’ll never lead you astray / Or take you the wrong way / You’ll be safe, holding the hand / Of the Lord.”

A mother’s role is not easy, but I believe God blesses mothers who point their children to Jesus.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies…in her tongue is the law of kindness…Her children arise up, and call her blessed…” (from Proverbs 31).