Mom, Could You?
A few years ago, I was sitting in my backyard. I sat therecontemplating all that was happening in my life with overwhelmingfeelings of despair.
I had married a man who was abusive and somehowmanaged to hide it from everyone else, including the kids. After hoursand hours of prayer, I remained hopeless in knowing what to do. As Isat there in my thoughts, my eldest son, who was about 14, came up andsat down beside me. Although I was distracted, I could tell that hewas in deep thought about something.
We sat there in silence a fewminutes and then he spoke. "Mama, could you withstand the things thatJob did?" I answered quickly saying, "Adam, I would have a hard timelosing my children."
He did not answer, as we sat there again insilence. A few moments later, he said, "Mama, could you withstand thethings that Job did?" This time I hesitated and reflected upon hisquestion a little more, realizing that he needed an answer. I thoughtabout it a moment more and then said, "Well Adam, as I said, I wouldhave a hard time losing my children."
He nodded and we continued tosit there, with my mind returning to what I had been thinking before hesat down. After a few more minutes of silence, Adam said, "Mama...could you withstand the things that Job did?" This time his questionhit me like a bucket of cold water.
I realized that either I could orI couldn't. I looked at my son and said, "Yes, Adam I believe Icould." I always wondered why Jesus asked Peter three times if heloved him. Now I know.
Adam is now attending college, studying tobecome a minister. But his ministry began years ago, as he sat therebeside me asking, "Mama, could you withstand the things that Job did?"
Barbara Barker --- Texas