‘Can a woman forget her nursing child…?’

I remember those very early days of breastfeeding my children. I remember the fear that would unwind in me when I could hear my daughter beginning to stir in the night, knowing that I would need to go to her and go through the excruciating process of trying to get her to latch properly. I remember the pain of those early weeks, my baby girl and I caught in mutual frustration that we could not get the hang of this feeding thing. Finally, after about 6 weeks, we got there. Even then we weren’t exactly a picture of blissful madonna and child, but we had figured it out together, more or less.

I definitely would not have been able to forget my nursing child at my breast! She was hungry, I was tired, we both didn’t know what to do but we both needed something from each other.

This verse from Isaiah was part of the reading from ‘Pray as You Go’ this morning. My breastfeeding days are (sadly and gladly) over, but the memories of the wrestle, struggle and work of nurturing a tiny baby have floated into my mind as I ponder these verses.

As I seek to love and care for my people, it can sometimes feel like I am on my own. I feel like I’m trying really hard to do my best, but perhaps I’m just re-arranging the chairs on the sinking ship? Does it even matter to anyone, or to God?

‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.’ Isaiah 49:15

God has not forgotten me as I try to follow him here. God is with me even as I fret, wrestle, cry and struggle. Maybe God even struggles with me, as he tries to help me to see how we might work together, and in partnership love and serve these people and this place.