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Friday, August 31, 2018

Her Story Silhouettes by Shari {#12 Emily Chubbuck Judson / Loving a Child}




Go to www.sharihouse.com to read more "Her Story Silhouettes" 


Hey there, I'm Shari. One of my favorite things to do is read about or study the lives of those who have gone before us or who are walking beside us in this endeavor of being a missionary lady.* 

Their stories challenge me, encourage me, and teach me. My hope is that these "silhouettes" or glimpses of their lives will do the same for you.  

Each silhouette contains a small synopsis of a lady’s missionary service, a particular story from her everyday life that resonated with my own, and a short Bible study about a truth that I learned from it. I hope that as you read these posts you might be challenged to find out more about these great ladies, that you might find something that speaks to your heart or helps you in your own ministry, and that ultimately you will be encouraged to remain faithful to your calling.

So grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy, and let me tell you about her story.


Silhouette:  


Emily Chubbuck was born in New York on August 22, 1817. She was the sixth child born into a very poor family, and before she turned 12, she found herself working in a wool mill to help support them. At a young age she was inspired to be a missionary when she read the memoir of Ann Judson, who was a missionary in Burma. Emily was quite clever and took every opportunity to advance her education, and by the age of 15 she was teaching at a local school. She used all her free time to write poems, Sunday school books, and children’s stories that were published by a Baptist publishing company. Her burden for the mission field only waned in the face of her deep desire to help her family, and she often stayed up long into the night writing. “I must write; I must write;” she said, “I must do what I can to aid my poor parents.” By the age of 19 she had made enough money from her writings that she was able to purchase a comfortable home for her parents. For seven years her fame as a teacher continued to take her from one school to a more important school. Eventually she found herself teaching at Utica Female Seminary. She started writing more secular style articles and stories under the penname, Fanny Forester, which drew the attention of popular entertainment magazines and she began to gain notoriety.

At the age of 28, she met Adoniram Judson for the first time. He was a famous missionary to Burma and had been one of her personal heroes since her early teen years.  He had recently made the voyage home for the first time since leaving America 34 years prior in the hope of helping his wife’s failing health, but Sarah passed away while they were still at sea. He arrived in America in October of 1846, and a few months after that took a trip with his friend, Dr. Gillette, from Boston to Philadelphia for a meeting. With the hopes of passing the time and lifting Adoniram’s spirits, his friend read him a book penned by a Miss Fanny Forester. Adoniram was impressed with her writing skills but not her subject matter, and he felt her writing could be of much more value if it were centered on more important matters. He decided right then and there that he wanted to meet her and secure her services to write his wife’s biography.  The two met for the first time on Christmas Day and spent many hours together over the next couple of weeks. Nothing more can be said but that they fell instantly in love. Within a few weeks they were engaged. Their whirlwind romance was met by opposition on both sides. He was 30 years her senior and his colleagues felt the worldly author was completely unsuited to be the wife of such an esteemed missionary. Adoniram on the other hand could see past the exterior sheen that comes with earthly renown and connected with her heart that still held true to an abiding faith.  Emily’s friends in the literary circles felt it was nothing short of piracy for Adoniram to whisk her away to heathen lands where her fame and talent would surely be wasted. Neither Adoniram or Emily cared what others thought as they loved each other dearly. They were married six months later and set sail to return to the mission work in Burma.

Emily adjusted to the work of a missionary quite easily and set out to learn the language as soon as she arrived. In no short amount of time, she was holding Bible studies for the ladies, counselling, and translating Sunday school lessons, hymns, and other various religious materials. Adjusting to the life of a missionary in Burma on the other hand was more difficult, but she handled it with courage and grace.  It is said that the house they lived in at Rangoon had hundreds of bats roosting in the rafters. These pests robbed them of much needed sleep in the night, and there was a constant mess on the floor every morning. The house was also plagued with hordes of “cockroaches, beetles, spiders, lizards, rats, ants, mosquitoes, and bedbugs.” Besides these horrible creatures, from their house they could hear the inhumane actions of the local government official who particularly hated Christians. At this time most of their missionary work had to be done in secret. Eventually guards were posted outside their house in the hopes of catching anyone going in or out that didn’t work there. Added to these problems was the stress of their support waning from the churches back home and both of them being so sick they could barely leave the house. In all of this though, they never wavered from their purpose of reaching as many for Christ as possible.

On December 24, 1847, their first daughter, Emily Frances, was born. By April of 1850 her husband had become gravely ill and was sent back to America in hopes of recovering. Emily was unable to go with him as it was nearing the end of her pregnancy with their second child. A few weeks later her son, Charles, was born and died on the same day. Her husband also passed away just a few weeks into his voyage, but Emily did not find out until the month of August.

In 1851, less than five years after she arrived in Burma, Emily found herself ordered home to America by her doctor because of her failing health. Once she returned to America she set herself to compiling materials for her husband’s biography and started writing again to supplement her income. She was able to author three more books before she succumbed to tuberculosis and died on June 1, 1854, at the age of 36. In her own words, “It is not the pearly gates and golden streets of heaven that attract me; it is its perfect rest in the presence of my Savior. It will be so sweet after a life of toil and care like mine, though a very pleasant one it has been.” She lived a short but full life and is remembered not only for her literary works, but also for the faithful companionship and help she was to her husband in the closing days of his missions service here on earth. She was truly a woman of whom it could be said, “She hath done what she could.”



Her Story/My Story: 

Upon Emily’s marriage to Adoniram, she became the mother of his five living children, Abby Ann, Elnathan, and Adoniram, who were attending school in the States, and the two youngest sons, Henry and Edward, who were yet in Burma awaiting their father’s return. In a letter to a friend, Emily writes, “I do love the dear children that a saint in heaven has left me. I love them for their own sakes; for sweeter, more lovely little creatures never breathed; brighter, more beautiful blossoms never expanded in the cold atmosphere of this world. I love them for the sake of one still dearer, who had the power to break all the ties which were twined within tenfold strength about my heart; and I love them because they are immortal beings, because for them a Savior died, even as for me. I love them; I pray to God to help me train them up in His fear and love.” Once her husband passed away and she was forced to return to America, the only thing that kept her from being crushed by her excessive grief of losing her beloved was the reuniting of Adoniram’s children under one roof and being a mother to them. These children who had suffered many hardships on the mission field as well as long periods of separation from their parents and then ultimately their parents’ deaths, found in Emily a woman willing to show them a mother’s love.

As for me, the Lord did not grant me the opportunity to bear a child of my own, but He has given me many opportunities to show a mother’s love to His precious children. There have been bus kids that needed a friendly smile, teens that needed a listening ear, and babies that needed a calming touch. God reminds me often of the verse Psalms 113:9,   “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.” 

Recently I found myself sitting next to one of a pair of identical twins I somewhat affectionately/somewhat seriously call my Tasmanian Devils. I couldn’t help but remember the first day they visited our church with their grandmother just over a year ago. She brought them upstairs to the nursery, told me their names, handed me a switch, and gave me her permission to use it. My first thought was, “Umm, this is going to be interesting.” My next thought was, “They are so adorable, how could you possibly need to switch them.” With a little love and direction, the girls settled in and played quite nicely with the other children. I was beginning to think that maybe the grandma was the problem, and then it came…the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment. It was time to go home and the kids were starting to clean up the toys and the girls just went crazy. I’ve worked with children a long time and have never seen anything like it. They were running around in circles, grabbing and throwing toys from one side of the room to the other, and laughing in quite an evil sinister laugh. I was just dumbfounded. Every time at the end of each service, when they could hear the parents coming up the stairs to collect their children, they became completely uncontrollable. They were not afraid to go with their grandma, but it was as if they didn’t want her to know they could sit calmly and play for 45 minutes without being totally out of control. It didn’t take long for the girls to learn that I wouldn’t put up with such nonsense.  

The past year has afforded me many opportunities to get to know these girls better, to choose to show them love instead of anger, and to show them patience instead of frustration. I wish I could say I responded correctly each time the occasion arose, but a bond has formed, and now they run up and hug me each time they see me because they know I love them. Since the girls have turned five recently we’ve had many more “teaching” opportunities with them sitting in Junior Church and the main services, but they are getting better. This particular church service when one of the twins was sitting next to me trying not to wiggle, I laid my hand on my lap facing upward and she quickly grasped it with her little hand. It seemed to have a calming effect on her, and we sat like that for the duration of the service. As I looked down at her little hand in mine, I was amazed again at the opportunity the Lord gives us to touch the lives of the ones He loves so much, and when I got home, I wrote this little poem.




Study  Loving a Child

I’m not sure when it starts…this inborn desire to nurture, protect, and care for another human being…but I know it is God-given. I mean, honestly, why else would we be willing to change a baby’s diaper, wake from a deep sleep to wipe a fevered brow, or help someone with their 6th grade Science project. When we carry this thought over to the realm of ministry, this nurturing characteristic manifests itself in ways like being willing to inconvenience ourselves to bring a child to church, sitting a child on our lap that hasn’t bathed for days, or hugging a little one who has a head full of nits.

Motherhood comes in so many different shapes and sizes. Sometimes the child is born from your very womb and other times they are born from your heart. Sometimes a child is thrust upon you, and others you seek out. No matter how it comes to be that you find yourself with an opportunity to love a child, take it. It is our greatest privilege to be the earthly vessel sent to them to show them their Heavenly Father.


Here are some ways to love the children in your life:

1. Accept them where they are and love them without reservation.

  • 1 Peter 4:8 "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
  • Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

2. Teach them and be kind to them.

  • Proverbs 31:26 "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." 
  • I Corinthians 13:4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind..."
  • Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."
  • Psalms 36:7 "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."

3. Make time for them and be willing to sacrifice for them.

  • Luke 18:15 & 16 "And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
  • Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."

4. Lead them by example and be patient with them. 

  • Titus 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works…”
  • Proverbs 14:29 "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." 
  • 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."




If you'd like to learn about other ladies who were used of God or if you'd like to find out more about my story you can click on this site's "Contributors" tab or visit my website at www.sharihouse.com

I'd love to hear about your story, too. Feel free to leave a comment, or friend me on Facebook, or visit me in Thailand.  I have a great guest room.  :)



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*Disclaimer:

I have chosen to highlight the life of these ladies because of what they have accomplished for the Lord not because I agree with their doctrinal beliefs.  As with all study of man, our focus should be on the character traits they bestowed in their lives that allowed the Lord to use them, how the Lord used them, the methods of ministry they incorporated that allowed them to be effective, etc.  We do not study man to get our doctrine.  Our doctrinal beliefs should only come from the Bible.  To that end you may find you don’t agree with the doctrine of a particular person that I write about, but I believe there is still much wisdom we can gain from studying their lives. 

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Hash Browns - With Video

Hash browns

Who likes hash browns for breakfast? I sure do! 
Warm, crispy, flavorful hash browns with some eggs, maybe some hot sauce. That is my kind of breakfast! 

This recipe is so easy, and simple. You can make it with potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams,  taro root, tapioca root, even squash or pumpkin! 

I normally make three batches of this recipe for my family of six. The nice thing about these hash browns, is that most every visitor that has had these hash browns has liked them! So if you have some picky eaters visiting, try this breakfast on them! 

What You’ll Need:
Two cups of shredded potatoes (or whatever tuber/squash you choose to use) 
One egg
One tablespoon of corn starch (you can use flour, but I like the texture more with corn starch)
                                                                   Salt to taste    
 Oil

Cover the bottom of your cast iron pan, or whatever pan you usually fry in, with about an inch of oil. Turn on heat to med-high. 
Mix the potatoes, egg, and corn starch. 
Measure out your hash browns with a quarter cup. Place mixture in oil and smash down slightly. 
Once the underside has started to turn brown, flip. Once that side is brown, remove from oil and strain, 
Sprinkle generously with salt, season salt, Cajun seasoning, or even taco seasoning! 

Sometimes, if we have left over hash browns, we like to make open face grilled cheese sandwiches with them! Just place the left over hash browns on a cookie sheet, and put slices of cheese on the top. Place the pan under the broiler in your oven. Remove once the cheese is melted, bubbly, and just starting to brown. 

I hope your family enjoys these hash browns as much as my family does! 

If you like this recipe, please comment below. If you have any questions, or comments, feel free to comment! I’d love to get feedback! 


Amber Wells 
Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 

Monday, August 27, 2018

Saying Goodbyes

We said goodbyes to our friends and family when we left one year ago to attend language school in Costa Rica.  Our first year away from family, friends, and our church.  All new beginnings.  I shed a few tears here and there.  The night before we left, however, I cried when I hugged my family for the last time....hard.  Then, I walked into Steak n' Shake to meet some lifelong friends before leaving.  One of them looked at me and said, "Get in that bathroom and dry it up.  We are not crying like that in here."  So, I did.  I had a few moments of fun and laughter with those women.  Then, I got in my car and drove away.  And, I cried again....hard.  I didn't think I could cry anymore after that night.  And, I didn't.  We made it to the airport with both my parents and my husbands' parents to see us off.  No tears were shed (that day, anyway).  I was truly looking forward to what our year in language school would hold.

We arrived in Costa Rica never having lived abroad or knowing what we were getting ourselves into.  I had heard "goodbyes" were the hardest.  I told my 10-year-old son at the time to embrace every person God brings into our lives.  Love hard.  Hold onto them.  Even though we know it may only be temporary.  And, I'm so glad we did.

Our time in language school was amazing.  Yes, there were hard days; but I'm so thankful God allowed me to hold on fast and hard to the people He brought into my life during that year, knowing I may never see them again this side of Heaven (except for Facebook.  Yay for technology!)  God has given us a bond that is unlike any other.   We have laughed with them, cried with them, explored countries with them, played a ton of games with them (much to my husband's dismay at times), and just shared life with them.  I knew the goodbyes were coming, but I didn't realize they would be just as hard as the ones were when we left for language school.

Our Graduating Class
We have grown to love our fellow students, neighbors, and church members. We had grown to love Costa Rica.  We had grown to love the life we lived there--tranquilo!  So, that last week of school, I held it in.  I held back the tears, even during graduation when they played our memory video.  During our graduation get-together that night, I was doing okay.  Do you want to know what brought on the tears?  A game I played with some of the women at the party.  I started tearing up as I watched my children playing with their friends, knowing the goodbyes were coming.  And, then it hit.  I hugged the last person, and the floodgates opened.  I cried all the way home....hard.  I cried over the life I would leave behind....again.  Dropping in to someone's house unannounced and hanging out--and having people drop by mine.  Playing games.  Drinking coffee.  A simple life. A wonderful community.  A common bond. 

Our return to the United States for a quick update to our churches and visits with family, supporters, and friends was a rough landing for me.  Re-entry was not what I had expected....at all.  And, honestly, I didn't handle it well.  But, when my children saw their "pop pop" waiting to pick us up with Krispy Kreme donuts in hand, I knew all would be well. 


It has been a crazy first week back, and it will be a packed seven weeks total.  The "goodbyes" were so hard, but how the "hellos" have been so good.  We are thankful for both.  "Hellos" and "Goodbyes" mean God is bringing people along our path to walk beside us on this journey, some for a moment and others for a lifetime.  I pray I continue to "love hard" on every single person and thank God for how He uses each of them in my life for however long He allows them to be in it.


Friday, August 24, 2018

Her Story Silhouettes by Shari {#11 Sarah Boardman Judson / Letting Go}


Hey there, I'm Shari. One of my favorite things to do is read about or study the lives of those who have gone before us or who are walking beside us in this endeavor of being a missionary lady.* 

Their stories challenge me, encourage me, and teach me. My hope is that these "silhouettes" or glimpses of their lives will do the same for you.  

Each silhouette contains a small synopsis of a lady’s missionary service, a particular story from her everyday life that resonated with my own, and a short Bible study about a truth that I learned from it. I hope that as you read these posts you might be challenged to find out more about these great ladies, that you might find something that speaks to your heart or helps you in your own ministry, and that ultimately you will be encouraged to remain faithful to your calling.

So grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy, and let me tell you about her story.



Silhouette:  


Sarah Hall was born on November 4, 1803, in Alstead, New Hampshire. She was the first of thirteen born to a couple who were of humble circumstances. She was given little opportunity to attend school, but instead was called upon to take care of the home and her siblings due to her mother’s poor health. She took every chance she could to school herself and especially excelled in literary composition and prose. Sarah’s heart was stirred for the foreign mission field, as many hearts were at that time in young America, and she followed closely the work that Adoniram and Ann Judson were doing in Burma. At the age of eighteen she became a Sunday school teacher and was an avid witness for Christ. At the age of 20 she became the leading member of a tract society and established a small prayer meeting where she was able to see all but one make a public profession of their faith in Christ. She tried to take every opportunity to hand out Gospel tracts or say an encouraging word about the Lord to all those she came in contact with.



Upon learning of the death of Missionary Colman who was also labouring in Burma, Sarah’s heart was so stirred that she penned a poem that spoke to the hearts of all who read it. One such person was George Boardman. He too was touched when he heard the news of Mr. Colman’s death and asked himself, “Who will go in his place,” upon which he replied, “I will.” As soon as he read Sarah’s poem, which had been published in a religious journal, he knew he must seek out the author whose words spoke the thoughts of his heart. Sarah was excited to find someone whose passion for the heathen on distant shores matched her own. On July 4, 1825, at the age of 22, she married the Reverend George Boardman and within two weeks, they sailed for Burma. Because of the fighting between Burma and Britain, they were forced to wait at Calcutta for 18 months. On April 17, 1827, they finally arrived at Amherst to join the Judsons in their endeavors. Adoniram was still grieving the recent loss of his dear wife, Ann, and would soon be burying his young daughter as well. He was left quite bereaved but found comfort, friendship, and help in the young couple who had come to work alongside of him.


Sarah and George started off in Maulmain, about 25 miles from Amherst, which was a lonely and dismal mission station about a mile from where the British army had a post. It was a place where wild beasts howled through the night and pillagers wreaked havoc whenever the fancy struck them. The Boardmans were offered a place to stay within the army camp, but instead chose for their family, which now included a baby girl, to erect a bamboo house at the base of a mountain close to the thick jungle. They wanted the natives to know they had not come to conquer them but to show them Christ. One night shortly after they arrived, Sarah woke to see robbers had pillaged everything of value in their home. It was particularly frightening to see that two gashes had been made in the mosquito net above their bed where no doubt a robber stood guard ready to kill if the sleepers should wake. She took great comfort in the fact that she knew God’s watchful eye had been on them, and He kept them slumbering through the ordeal. They were often subject to the harsh elements of the land along with the rough people who inhabited it, but in her own words, “We are in excellent health, and as happy as it is possible for human beings to be upon earth. It is our earnest desire to live and labor, and die, among this people.” Not long after that her daughter passed away. It was a particularly hard blow as she loved her so dearly. Her daughter’s death caused her to see more plainly than ever the frailty of human life and the need for urgency in reaching those around her with the Gospel. The idea that their little family now had a representative in heaven was quite precious to her and brought her comfort and caused her to fear less the time when her life on earth would also be done.

In April, 1828, it was decided that they should live and work out of a mission station in Tavoy which was about 150 miles south of Maulmain. It was here their real labors….and their struggles began. They found the “whole city given to idolatry.” Everywhere there were evidences of heathen worship, heathen superstition, and heathen cruelty. The Boardmans erected a zayat and while her husband sat at its door teaching anyone who passed by and inquired, Sarah began teaching the local children. In February of 1829, they made their first tour among the Karens, a people group living in Burma that lived in small villages in the mountain jungles. Sarah quickly mastered the language and began translation work. She helped oversee the children’s home and she opened a school for girls. She also ministered as she could to the English women who found themselves living in Amherst, Maulmain, and Tavoy for various reasons. Whenever Sarah was able to meet with them, she took the opportunity to encourage them to know God and she was able to see many of them saved. They said of Sarah, “she was the most finished and faultless specimen of an American woman that they had ever known.”

Their fruitful ministry in this place was not without great difficulties and discouragements, however. During those first six years she and her husband were in Burma, she bore three children, only one of whom survived. Both her and her husband's health became precarious at different times, and in 1831, at the age of 28 her husband was taken from her. She was left alone with her son George in this harsh land. It would have been perfectly acceptable and even expected for her to return home to the comforts of family and friends and all things familiar, especially in her time of grief, but she decided rather to stay. In her own words, “My beloved husband wore out his life in this glorious cause; and that remembrance makes me more than ever attached to the work, and the people for whose salvation he labored till death.” For the next three years or so, she continued their work in the jungle villages with her young son and a few native helpers. She worked from sunrise until ten o’clock each night. She traipsed through “wild mountain passes, over swollen streams, deceitful marshes, craggy rocks, tangled shrubs and jungles” in order to teach and minister in the Karen villages. She established five mission schools which she supervised with the help of native teachers and continued to be in charge of the food and clothing for the boarding schools.

At the age of 32, four years after her husband’s death and eight years after Adoniram Judson’s first wife, Ann, had passed away, the two fell in love and got married. Sarah proved to be an invaluable asset to Adoniram’s ministry. During their eleven years of marriage, she bore him eight children, five of whom survived. Somehow she found time to translate into the Burmese language over 20 hymns, 4 volumes of Children’s Sunday school lessons, several tracts, Pilgrim’s Progress, and many other Christian materials. She then decided to learn the language of the Peguans, another tribe in their region, in order to reach them with the Gospel in their native tongue.  She superintended the translation of the New Testament and various tracts in their language, and she held prayer meetings for the ladies and gathered the Burmese women into classes for Bible study and prayer…all of this amidst declining health. 

Sarah had struggled with sickness off and on over the years and had come quite near death more than once, but finally in early fall of 1845, after 20 years on the field, it was determined that only a voyage back to America could save her. She did not make it home. Sarah died while at sea on September 1, 1845, and was buried at a mission station on the island of St. Helena. As she lay on her death bed, Adoniram, knowing how much she gave up to spend her life serving the Lord, asked her this question. “Do you still love the Saviour?” “Oh yes,” she replied, “I ever love the Lord Jesus Christ.” He then asked, “Do you still love me?” With her affirmative answer and a farewell kiss from her husband, her spirit left her earthly body, and she was immediately in the presence of the One for whom she toiled and was reunited with her little ones that had gone on before. She was truly an example of a lady of whom it could be said, "She hath done what she could."


Her Story/My Story:  


Sarah wrestled in her heart with this notion of going to the mission field, not because it wasn’t her heart’s burning desire, but mostly because she could see the need all around her right where she was. It would be hard, too, for her to leave her family who had for so long relied on her strength, love, and care. Just a couple weeks before her wedding, her mother exclaimed to her, “Oh! I cannot part with you.” Her wedding day came and not many days later they were set to depart for the foreign fields where they would start their life together serving the Lord. A stagecoach was secured to take them to the vessel that would transport them to Burma. Her parents came to say their final goodbyes knowing in their hearts this was probably the last time they would see their daughter this side of heaven. It was then that Sarah leaned out of the stage coach and looking at her father asked,

“Father, are you willing? Say, Father, that you are willing I should go.”
“Yes, my child,” was the answer. “I am willing.”

Sarah replied, “Now I can go joyfully.”

As I was making my final preparations to leave for Nigeria for my first term on the field, I asked my mother how she felt about my going. I don’t remember her exact words at that moment but shortly after and just before I left, she gave me a small framed plaque that said, “To be God’s ambassador is the highest calling.” I carried that small frame, that held the sentiments of courage and purpose and surrender given to me by my mother, from America to Nigeria, from Nigeria to New Zealand, and from New Zealand to Thailand. I’m afraid it was lost in the great flood we had here in Thailand several years ago now, but the sentiments that were behind those words have always stayed with me in my heart. I praise the Lord for parents who not only raised me in a Christian home and challenged me to use my life for God’s service, but who were also willing to let me go to do the job I felt God had created me for. In modern times my leaving did not mean necessarily that I would never see them again, but it did mean that the times would be years apart. Much has changed over the past 23 years, and although I can pick up the phone now and talk to my parents whenever I want, going years between being able hug their neck is still a reality and something that doesn’t get easier with time. I often say, “Missionaries don’t speak of seeing family in weeks or in months but in years.”

Sarah’s parents’ willingness to let her go gave her the freedom to do so. I’m sure they had absolutely no idea the great impact that decision would have for eternity. Now over half a million Karen and Burmese claim the name of Christ. A few years ago tens upon tens of thousands gathered to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the Gospel being brought to them by the Judsons. It has been my great privilege to work with the Karen people for the past six years. They tell me of the stories that have been passed down through their generations of the great things Sarah Judson did for their people. Yearly they celebrate how she insisted, and made provision for, the Karen children especially the girls to go to school and be educated. Although there is no picture on this earth to remind us of her face, her life is still etched and forever will be on the hearts of the Karen people.


Study  Letting Go


The Bible is filled with stories of parents who chose to use their children for their own good pleasure, like in the case of Laban who used Leah to trick Jacob into 14 years of free labor or Lot who willingly offered his two daughters to a mob in order to protect the visitors staying in his home. But, it is also filled with stories of parents who chose to give their children back to God to be used for His purpose like we see in the story of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice Isaac at God’s request or the story of Hannah who gave Samuel back to the Lord to be raised at the temple for God’s service.



God’s intention for the children He grants us if for us to. . .


  • love them (Ps. 103:13)
  • teach them (Eph. 6:4; Deut. 11:19)
  • discipline them (Pro. 13:24, 19:18, 29:17)
  • train them (Pro. 22:6)      

. . . not for our own pleasure or for what they can bring to our lives, but so that they will be equipped in the best possible way to accomplish His will in their lives.

I like the analogy the Lord gives us in Psalm 127:3-5 where he likens children to arrows.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed,
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

God says children are like arrows. Why arrows?

1. Arrows are made with a purpose.  They are not just a decorative thing that sits around. God has a purpose for every child He gives us to raise.

2. Arrows are made to aid and assist, whether that is to feed a family or fight a foe. A parent’s responsibility is to train and equip their child in such a way that they will be ready to do whatever job it is that God has for them to do.

3. Arrows are made straight so that when they are pointed in the right direction they will hit the mark. A parent’s job is to teach their children the straight truths from the Word of God to give them the best opportunity of hitting the mark and then point them in the right direction.  A parent headed in the wrong direction rarely leads to a child going in the right direction.

4. Arrows are made to reach heights and lengths that the sender cannot. A parent should hope and pray and work towards their child being able to accomplish even more for the Lord than they were able to do. 

And then there is the quiver. It is an interesting analogy between the quiver and a man’s home filled with children. The purpose of the quiver is to hold and protect the arrows. . . .but only until it is time for them to be drawn and shot.  A parent should always be willing to let their child leave the comforts of home to accomplish the thing God has created them to do. 

When we accept that we have been given this child from the Lord,
and we acknowledge that this child is ultimately His to do His will and for His good pleasure,
we affirm in the hearts of our child their rightful responsibility of seeking God’s purpose and plan for their life,
and we allow them the freedom to do it.





If you'd like to learn about other ladies who were used of God or if you'd like to find out more about my story you can click on this site's "Contributors" tab or visit my website at www.sharihouse.com

I'd love to hear about your story, too. Feel free to leave a comment, or friend me on Facebook, or visit me in Thailand.  I have a great guest room.  :)



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*Disclaimer:

I have chosen to highlight the life of these ladies because of what they have accomplished for the Lord not because I agree with their doctrinal beliefs.  As with all study of man, our focus should be on the character traits they bestowed in their lives that allowed the Lord to use them, how the Lord used them, the methods of ministry they incorporated that allowed them to be effective, etc.  We do not study man to get our doctrine.  Our doctrinal beliefs should only come from the Bible.  To that end you may find you don’t agree with the doctrine of a particular person that I write about, but I believe there is still much wisdom we can gain from studying their lives.