Full of sap: wisdom for moms from Marilynn

a devotional by Marilynn Moe, age 87

Editor’s note- if you have not had the opportunity to meet Marilynn yet, get on it! She will give you a giant smile, her friendly words will be sprinkled with scripture, and she will remember you and many of the details you share. She does cool things like throw birthday parties for people turning 90 at Homestead and write poetry (we’re sharing one of her poems this month), and play hymns on the piano. She is a firecracker wrapped in a pretty scarf! -Jill

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So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

What a gift each of our families are. My husband, Darrel and I were blessed with six children- one of whom we adopted. I do recognize that when there are several little ones at home at the same time, some days seem a bit overwhelming, don’t they? No way could I keep up with a family of six today, but He doesn’t require that today. God is so good and so gracious to give us enough strength and energy for what He has in mind that we will need. No more and no less! Isn’t He wonderful?? Yes!

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint Isaiah 40:31

But…there are days when clouds have obscured this wonderful promise and I’ve felt like the bottom has dropped out of physical and emotional energy, strength, and “able” meter. Then I find a very needed promise by God Himself to Paul and to me:

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.

And Paul’s and my joyful response is:

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me…for when I am weak, then i am strong. 2Corinthians 12:9-10

As a mom, God gave me special understanding by having to wait almost three years for our first-born, giving us the unique privilege of adopting a baby, and allowing me to birth our last child at age 42! I must admit that those very busy days with the children at home went by much, much faster than I ever thought possible. We had 36 years of school-age children, and now we’e had 26 years in which they are all on their own.

Honestly, I didn’t always do the best job some days, but I will say, I looked to the dear Lord for direction and guidance each day. Making memories with our children is a chance we get only once. Prioritize having them know Jesus, who will be their Guide through their life. I am glad for the busy teaching/learning times and for the fun playtimes: a winter winer roast outside in the snow; a lemonade stand on a hot summer afternoon; a trip to the town’s swimming pool and a Dairy Queen stop on the way home; the 4-H projects we worked on throughout the year for the county fair in the fall; the times we took extended summer trips in the old station wagon to interesting places like the scenic Badlands and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. What wonderful Creator we have.

For it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

We have traveled to every continent, taken numerous bus trips across the USA and Canada, and now at this age, we do armchair traveling watching the videos of our trips. You might say our traveling days were Go-Go, then Go-Slow, and now Go-No! I will forever stand in awe of the beauty, grandeur and magnificence of God’s handiwork in creation. Consider the vastness of the oceans, the majestic of the Rockies, the huge layers of ice in Antarctica, the glorious fjords in Norway and walking where Jesus walked in the Holy Land, to name just a few. How great Thou art!

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

My life verse at age 87:

They will still yield fruit in old age. They shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my Rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:14-15

God has me in His Continuing Education 101 class, and He has given me a front row seat to watch His Word work in many lives. My work will be complete when I stand before Him, face to face in Glory.

“What a day, glorious day that will be!”

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Marilynn Moe is a former music teacher of piano, organ, and accordion for a period of 56 years in North Dakota. She is grandma to 19 and great-grandma to 19 more, who live scattered across the United States. She is thankful to stay connected through visits, email, phone, and FaceTime.