Do you remember asking your parents for something and being highly anxious about their response? We can probably all remember those feelings.
As a young man beginning in ministry Oswald Chambers had the opportunity to travel to Japan. In those days such travel was neither as common nor as safe as it is now. He wrote to his parents about the opportunity not sure what response to expect from them. My guess is he had those feelings of anxiety we can all remember.
He had many friends whose parents had discouraged them from such travels. Chambers was very pleased to receive word back from his mother. Not only did she want him to go, she gave monetary and prayer support to speed him on his way.
This is from the letter he wrote back.
My dear brick of a mother,
I am proud of your letter and more than proud of such a mother. I read a portion of your letter to Nakata and he said “Your mother is surely a noble woman.”
God has undertaken mightily. The enervation caused by the home folks’ attachment has often been terrible in an outgoing missionary’s life. Ever as possible I love you more than ever for being so robust and strong in your mind. Thank God for you.
What a touching portion of a letter!
Chambers absolutely nails the problem facing some young people headed into missions, ministry, or other fields of endeavor in that phrase about “the enervation caused by the home folks’ attachment.”
Mothers an dfathers remember that your family members are God’s before they were ever “yours.”
When it comes to supporting them and loving them, be a brick.