ARTICLES

God's Maternal Arms

by Mari Anne Andersen [ May 2008 ]

As I ponder and soak in the abundance and brightness of God's maternal love and glory, it brings me to my knees, filled with deep gratitude especially during this month when we celebrate Mother's Day.  

I would like to share a personal testimony of an experience that was birthed right out of Isaiah 66.

We (Tommy and I) have three grown children, Karin Marie, 25, in grad school; Fillip, 22, in college; and Markus, 21, also in college. By the way, the boys are at the same school.  Very convenient for Mom and Dad!  We are extremely blessed and proud to have wonderful, beautiful, and loving children who all have different personalities and temperaments that make the family exciting as well as interesting.  It is quite different being a mother with grown children who are all out of the house and on their own, moving into their own lives. I must say we are enjoying our "empty nest" times.  However, Tommy and I often reminisce about when our children were small, how much we enjoyed it, and how simple things seemed to be at that time.

There was a particular season in my life as a mother that I thoroughly enjoyed beyond measure which was nursing all my little ones.  It was a profound experience for me and, I believe, for my babies.  Nursing brought a time which gave each one undivided attention that focused into their being, meeting all their needs - physical, emotional, spiritual and relational.  It was and has always been a treasured time of bonding, heart to heart and spirit to spirit. It was a nurturing and comforting time where love was being poured into their inner core, feeding their identity, security and personality, and it was a place of rest, comfort, and provision.  So often I would coo and woo them into smiles and laughter while they nursed, and the milk would run down the sides of their mouths choking them because of laughter. Also, there were times during nursing when they would reach up and stroke my face with such tenderness and such love that it would bring tears of joy and deep contentment to my eyes, that all was well in the world.  This leads me to my own personal story.

Several years ago, I was crying out for more of the Father's love, more of His comfort, and more of His rest.  I so desired to go deeper into experiencing more of the Father and to be "fathered" by Him.  I remember when Jack Frost taught about the Father's love and the feeling of "Daddy's home" in the hearts of His children.  Immediately, that phrase brought up uncomfortable feelings along with emotions that didn't sit right with me -   "Daddy's home."  For me that phrase,  brought back childhood memories of when my earthly father would come home drunk which meant I never knew what kind of mood he would be in.  It was an unpredictable time, neither a safe nor comforting time, but a time to be on guard.

Grasping and crying uncontrollably with this deep pain to be fathered by my Heavenly Father, suddenly I received a vision from God.  I immediately saw me and one of my children whom I was nursing, and my heart became stilled and quieted as I connected with the feelings and emotions of that time.  Unexpectedly,  my child's face changed and became my face being in El Shaddai's arms (the many- breasted one).  I was the one being nursed. I was the one being comforted and satisfied from God's consoling breasts; I was the one drinking deeply, so deeply that I began choking on His milk of love. I saw His hand reach out to stroke my face and heard the words, "Mari Anne, I couldn't imagine life without you."  In that instance, I felt that "Daddy was home,"  and my world shifted and turned 180 degrees. It revolutized my life, my thinking, and my being.  I had an encounter with my Father, an experience that went deep down into the core of my inner-being in which I knew without a doubt that I am His beloved daughter, so much so, He couldn't imagine life without me. I knew that "Daddy's home" in my heart where I live in fullness of peace, rest, and comfort, drawing from Him daily.  I have a place to call home, a place to find nurture and abundance in God's maternal arms.  This changed me so greatly that no matter what is happening in the present, I can immediately go to that place in God's maternal arms, quiet my soul, and be fed by His maternal love of comfort and nurture.    

He then lead me to Isaiah 66:11  - "That you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breasts; that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance and brightness of her glory.  For thus, says the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; then you shall be nursed, you shall be carried on her hip, and be trotted on her (God's maternal) knees.  As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." 

As Father God is our maternal/paternal parent, we can be assured that He is the only one who can go back into that vacant place in our hearts to restore and replenish what we didn't receive growing up.  Time and space do not hinder Him and He is the only one who can restore what the locusts have eaten.  He will come and father us by pouring in the comfort and nurture of what we missed in our early years.  

I bless you in the name of Jesus during this time of Mother's Day,  with His love, comfort, and rest that designed for you.  May you drink in His mother's love to hold you in stability, security and peace, knowing that you were chosen, that you are precious, and that He couldn't imagine life without YOU.  I bless you with that confidence in who YOU were created to be by Father God.  Father, come and father your little ones and reconcile their hearts completely to You, knowing that they are true gift in this life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.