Somewhere, there is a momma in the silent years quietly wiping down a high chair. Breakfast is over and her baby is babbling on a blanket as she takes a minute to clean up applesauce and tiny puffs that have spilled across the floor.
She will spend so much of her day pouring out love to that sweet baby, maybe two, who love her dearly, but don’t have the words to tell her just yet. Who rely on her for everything, but cannot say how much they appreciate her.
She will speak to that baby, and sing, and read stories – each word an investment – but without a word in return.
To the momma in the silent years –
You’re doing beautiful work. Yes. Beautiful. It doesn’t always feel very glamorous does it? But it truly is. There will come a day when your little one looks up at you and says, “I love you so much, momma. Thank you for my chocolate milk. Thank you for my bedtime story. Thank you for playing with me, momma. Momma, can I have a hug? Momma, can we go play outside?”
They will be full of stories, because you taught them that they were important. They will sing songs, because their hearts remembered your words. And they will be full of conversations, because you showed them with each word you poured into them that they mattered.
And some days… you will wonder if they will ever stop talking. But you might think back to these silent years and remember how badly you wanted your little one to speak to you. How lonely it felt some days to be with someone at all times and not have a conversation.
But the silent years don’t last forever – and soon your life will be full of small voices and chatter. Just hold on, sweet momma. God hears your heart.
Somewhere, there is a momma in the silent years waiting for a phone call. She hasn’t heard from her child in days, and no matter how many times she has reached out, there has only been silence from the other end.
She will spend most of her time praying for that now grown baby. She will ask God to keep her child safe. She will trust that the love that she has poured out will not come back void. And she will wait.
It might be because of a busy schedule, or a life in transition, or even a rebellious streak – but whatever has brought both of them to this time, it won’t last forever.
To the momma in the silent years – hold onto hope. God can change priorities in an instant. He can restore relationships in a moment. He can build bridges across what seemed like canyons. Just hold on, sweet momma. God hears your heart.
Somewhere, there is a momma in the silent years waiting for a sign that her prayers have been heard. She has asked God for a baby of her own day after day. She has taken tests that have all come back negative.
She has cried.
She has prayed some more, but each month the results are the same and her faith seems frail.
To the momma in the silent years – God hears your cries. He knows the deepest desires of yours heart, and though you question if they will be answered – He wants you to know that you are not forgotten. You are not alone.
In a moment, God can speak. He can direct. He can guide. He can reassure. Because these silent years don’t last forever. Just hold on, sweet momma. Everything can change in an instant. God hears your heart.
There can be hope for each season. Hope that comes from our Heavenly Father alone. Hope that our hearts are known. Hope for a different tomorrow. Hope for the future. If you’re running low on hope today, borrow mine. I will stand with you. I will remain hopeful for you.
So, Father, today we ask that you would speak more audibly than ever before. Reassure our hearts of your presence. Reassure our hearts of your love. You are so faithful, Father. Help us to hear you clearly as you pour out your words of love like the momma of the little one, as your wait for us to come to you like the momma waiting to hear from her child, and as your Son constantly brings us before your throne of grace. It is in the precious name of Jesus that I pray.
