Hope For a Mother’s Heart

Column Post by Glenda Harbinson

Hope. My heart longs to remain full of hope in the weeks to come as my 19-year-old daughter recovers from a head injury.

It seemed simple enough at the beginning—your typical concussion—but in time we discovered that much more damage was done than we first thought. The term “traumatic brain injury” haunts my dreams—when I am able to sleep.

My mother-heart aches as I watch her burst into sobs over having to go to bed alone, or grow defiant when I tell her she needs to take a shower or a bath.

My daughter has reverted back to approximately two years old in her emotional capacity, and the girl who has been not only my daughter but my very dear friend is simply no longer there.

Hope. I hope for her complete healing.  My heart periodically screams out to God that I simply cannot do this. I am not strong enough. I have too much on my plate already. Then God gently reminds me of James 1:2.  “Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

I am not being tested or punished; I am being given a chance to become stronger in patience, a fruit of the spirit.  As much as it hurts me to see my daughter go through this, it is also an opportunity for her to grow in grace and in patience.

When I come at it from this perspective it seems to me to be more like a privilege.

Hope.  It’s something I never want to take for granted or let fade from my sight. God offers us hope in Him—hope for comfort in our trials and for pure joy when our  human side feels like we can’t take one more step, jump one more hurdle, deal with one more childish need.

Isaiah 43:2 says “When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and through the rivers they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned.”

There is so much reason for hope in God. I hope my daughter heals 100%.  I hope that in a month, or maybe three, she will be back to the girl we have known and loved for many years. Should that not happen, I still have hope in Christ that He will use our lives, our stories, our growth in patience and trust  for HIS glory.

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P.S. We’d love to know your thoughts; be sure to share in the comments section below. This month we will draw TEN winners from our commenters and the winners will receive one of these two  books, Hope for a Hurting Heart or To Let You Know I Care by our featured author this month, Cheryl Karpen. 

Glenda is a homeschooling mom of four in New Brunswick, Canada. She also fosters one teen and provides respite care and tutoring for another. She and her paramedic husband Mark have been married for 24 years. Glenda’s writings often reflect her personal experience parenting and teaching children with developmental and learning differences, as well as a particular empathy for moms with chronic illness. She blogs at http://pwsmommy.homeschooljournal.net/ and can be reached by emailing glenda.harbinson@gmail.com

Read more encouraging stories from brave-hearted women here. Be sure to grab your free copy of inspirational quotes and writing prompts while you’re there. (Look over on the right hand side!)