The motion in my row was quite different.  Beside me stood my wife, holding Eliana; and Eliana was tired.  This church in north Texas was a relatively new work, and did not yet have the space or personnel to maintain a nursery.  Thus Carla, at this service, filled the role of nursery and apparently, a toddler jungle-gym.

As I glanced at my wife, the frustration in her eyes was evident.  This 18 month old toddler was straining, pushing, and throwing herself around in mommy’s arms.  Mommy held tight to this squirming child as best she could, but the tired toddler was too much for mommy’s back and arms.

I silently motioned, offering to take the baby from my wife.  The look of relief spread across her face, and I lifted this tired toddler to my arms.

Upon reaching daddy’s arms, the baby began to snuggle down onto my shoulder.  Not quite finding what she wanted, she began to push against me, straining against my arms.  She began to fuss as she attempted to break my grip, but my arms held, unmovable by her little body.

Quickly, she abandoned the fight, knowing that she was in arms stronger than her.  She allowed herself to rest, and soon was fast asleep.  Mom, looking over, shook her head in disbelief. Her eyes, asking the question, “How did you do that?”

Quietly I whispered back, “Sometimes Mommy just won’t do.”

Mommy can do amazing things.  She can interpret the wordless infant cry, and know immediately what needs to be done.  She can hear the lone cough in another room, and wake instantly to care for the fevered brow.  A kiss from mommy can quiet the tears of a boy who has skinned his knee.  Mommy can do amazing things, but sometimes mommy just won’t do.

There have been times when I have walked into church, tired and frustrated from life.  Weary from the fight, I tried to share with others the burdens I carried, only to find them unable or unwilling to understand or help.

The Church can do amazing things.  It can reach out and feed the hungry, when no one else cares to look. It can teach the word of God so that even a child can understand. It gives birth to new believers, as souls are won to the kingdom.  The church can do amazing things, but sometimes mommy just won’t do.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when we walk into church, or fellowship with believers with weariness and frustration evident on our face.  We encounter superficial conversations that only prove weakness in those we speak to. Frustrated, we move on.  Their spiritual arms are not strong enough to bear the weight we carry.

We sit down in the pew, worship proceeding around us, but still we feel the weight.  Finally, the pastor takes the stage, and our last hope is dashed as he finishes his message.  Not once did he address our burden or need. We leave the church, deciding that it is either under equipped, or unprepared to help carry our burden.  Sometimes mommy just won’t do.

My daughter loves her mommy.  She will often climb onto mommy’s lap, and sit looking up at her mommy’s face. I have watched her run to mommy and give her a hug, her little hands patting mommy on the back.  That night at church, my daughter did not cease to love her mommy; she simply had a problem too big for mommy.

Eliana had pushed, and strained at mommy’s arms, only to find them moveable, and imperfect.  “How can I trust mommy, how do I know she won’t drop me, if I, as small as I am, can force her arms?”  It’s hard to feel safe, when you know that the person holding you is no stronger than you.  It’s hard to trust people with your problems when they are equally as human.  Sometimes mommy just won’t do.

But then there is Daddy. Daddy, whose arms are stronger than those of His bride.  Daddy, whose unmovable arms do not give way when we push and strain, flail or whine.  Daddy, who loves us in spite of our faults, and never drops us because of our tantrum.  Daddy, on whose shoulder we can rest our head, and in whose arms, we will always find peace.

When friends can’t help you, and pastor is unable to handle your problem, Daddy is always there.  He never leaves you or forsakes you, and will lift you into His arms the moment you cry out.  Whatever you have gone through, these words from Matthew 11:28 are from your “Daddy God.”  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

There are some problems too big for pastor, and some problems too big for the church, because sometimes mommy just won’t do.

Updates

Allen, TX - Ken will be preaching at The Sanctuary, in Allen TX on Friday, June 3rd.  Services are held at 7 PM.  For more information, visit www.tdministries.com.

Website Changes - Our website is changing.  Have you read a newsletter, and wanted to be able to share it with someone else?  We now have an archive of each of this year's newsletter articles.  Visit our website and click the newsletter link to sign up for our newsletters or search the list of old newsletters that are all now available online.

Schedule - Our schedule often changes with very little notice.  To stay up to date on our itinerary, visit our website at www.kenswett.com and click the link for our schedule.

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