RELATE with Helen: The Beauty of Together

“I am completely captivated by the beauty of TOGETHER–a magnificent, harmonious symphony with Jesus being the center of it all.”

By Helen Burns | Twitter: @helenburns

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Last week I spent a very memorable evening with three amazing women–my daughters Angela, Danica and Ashley. We had planned the evening to celebrate Ashley’s birthday with shopping and yummy Indian food. It was perfect–we bought bedding, clothing, lush candles, lovely dishes and books (yay for Anthropologie) and ate delectable food. We laughed until we cried (which we always do) and we talked openly, trustingly and safely and it occurred to me how intensely blessed and strong we were together. There was no hesitancy in our communication, no fear of being known, no awkwardness in expressing our heart’s longings or disappointments–it was a picture of the truest and purest form of motherhood, sisterhood and friendship.

The next morning I woke up early to study and finalize my preparations for a message I shared at LifeWomen, entitled  ”Womanity: The Heart and Strength of Motherhood.” I had planned to highlight the faith and courage of Jocabed, the mother of Moses who had so trustingly hid her baby boy in a basket and placed him in the Nile River. As I re-read the first chapters of Exodus, however, my heart was drawn to a bigger story–the story of a company of women who all participated in saving the life of a baby boy whom God had marked for a destiny of greatness. I encourage you to read Exodus 1 -2:10 and see the magnificence of these women who cooperated with the plan of God, each playing their part to bring about freedom and deliverance for literally millions of people.

These women were:

• The gutsy midwives, Shiphrah and Puah who refused to kill the baby boys as ordered by Pharoah. I adore these brave women who put the lives of others before their own. Heroes!
• Jocabed, Moses’ mother who was relentless, innovative and filled with ruthless trust in her God! She managed to hide a baby boy for three months, build a wee waterproof “ark” out of papyrus reeds and then with abandoned faith place him in the Nile knowing that God was watching over him.
• The Egyptian princess, Pharoah’s daughter and her maidens. Exodus 2:6 says “she saw the baby and her heart went out to him.” She recognized that he was a Hebrew baby and yet the heart of a mother rose up in her to care for him, even though her father had commanded he should have been killed. How amazing–it dawned on me afresh that we should never limit who God will use to partner in the journey of one precious life.
• Miriam, Moses’ sister. She protectively watched over him from a distance … she became her brother’s keeper as she stepped into the situation and offered a solution for Moses’ welfare.

As women, we are all mothers, we are all friends–we are all sisters.

I have learned never to devalue what can come of a few committed women who each play their part in the grand scheme of God’s plan. I love how Matthew 18:19-20 (Amplified) describes this:

“Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in Heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.”

I am completely captivated by the beauty of TOGETHER–a magnificent, harmonious symphony with Jesus being the center of it all. Just as I need you to play your part and you need me to play mine, the world needs us to come together for a cause and a purpose that is much bigger than what one of us can manage on our own–it really is as simple and as pure as that. There are literally multitudes of others waiting on the other side of our partnership.

Sisters

This brings me back to the significance of the evening I spent with my daughters. It’s been a huge and very difficult few years for one of us in particular, but in fact it has been huge for all of us because of our intense love and fierce commitment to each other. We have carried each other and have sung over each other when our hearts couldn’t find the melody any more. We have found a way to each play our part to ensure that we all arrive safely at our destination even though the waters of life may seem precarious and dangerous at times.

We can’t afford to lose one voice. Just as God needed a company of women to secure the safety of Moses, God needs us to carry each other.

I have such hope and a dream for the future of sisterhood. I see women stepping into the gap and lending their strength to each other–selflessly, tirelessly and confidently. A beautiful story is unfolding and I invite you to allow your story to be written into His story. Let’s go girls–so much to get done so let’s do it together!

About Helen:

Helen Burns and her husband, John, speak around the world on the topic of relationships. They host the popular TV show “Relate with John and Helen.”

Image credit: South Beach Sisters, by adwriter