Praying in Color

  • Home
  • Sybil MacBeth
  • Books & DVDs
    • Books & DVDs
    • Praying in Color
    • The Season of the Nativity
    • Pray and Color
  • Workshops / Events
  • Examples
  • Handouts
  • Contact
  • Blog
Mobile Nav MenuLogo

Fearless Mothering?

May 9, 2010 by Sybil Macbeth 3 Comments Leave a Comment

My friend Cindy often creates a drawing in response to a word suggested each week on a website called Illustration Friday. The word for this week is “fearless.” Here is Cindy’s drawing and the words she wrote to accompany it on her blog Mostly Markers:

I was wondering what to draw for “fearless,” this week’s Illustration Friday word. Then the church service this morning reminded me of this Bible verse, one of my favorites. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Today is Mother’s Day, so the words connected for me with the thought of a mother’s love.


Much of the time I have to confess to being a fearful parent rather than a fearless one. But Cindy’s drawing and the quote above from 1John 4:18 (NRSV) remind me of my hunger for the “perfect love which casts out fear.” As a mother, perfect love and fearlessness seem like impossible challenges. My love for my children feels conditional and flawed; my mind and heart are full of worry and concern for their safety and their future. But with God’s help I get glimmers of perfect love and fearlessness. In tiny increments—maybe 10 seconds at a time—I surrender my self and my children to God’s love and into God’s care. In those few moments I am deliriously fearless and free.

Sybil MacBeth ©2010

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • More
NEW! Praying in Color

New!

Read More

Filed Under: Praying in Color Tagged With: 1John 4:18, fear, Mother's Day

Comments

  1. Lynn Hunter says

    May 18, 2010 at 8:18 am

    A wise woman once told me, “Our children bring us to our knees.”

    Reply
  2. Karen Joy says

    August 16, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I found the above picture to illustrate a blog post of mine… So perfect!! Your post takes a little bit different tack from mine, but they’re really similar. http://onlysometimesclever.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/perfect-love/

    Reply
  3. Sybil Macbeth says

    August 18, 2011 at 10:17 am

    Karen Joy, I like your observation of the intersection of oxytocin, adrenaline, and John 4! Cool.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FIND ME ON
Find Me on Facebook
  • Home
  • Praying in Color
  • Sybil & Andy MacBeth
  • Books & DVDs
  • The Season of the Nativity
  • Pray and Color
  • Workshops / Events
  • Handouts
  • Examples
  • Contact
  • Blog
© 2016 Sybil MacBeth. All Rights Reserved. Website by Paraclete Web Design.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.