I remember one day when Kenna, who was four at the time, came up to me while I was working at my desk and handed me a pen. “Can you write ‘Mommy” on my hand?” she asked.
“Sure I can!” I replied. “But why do you want me to write my name on your hand?”
Without hesitation, she said…
“Because I’m going outside to play and I don’t want to forget about you.”
I took her hand, opened those fingers that were still holding on to that last bit of baby fat, and wrote on the palm of her hand, “MOMMY.”
“There!” I told her. “You will never forget about me.”
Then I took the same pen and wrote “KENNA” on the palm of my hand. I held it up to her.
“And I’m never going to forget about you!” I promised.
Sometimes in life you feel forgotten. You keep bumping your head up against those same walls, chasing shadows down the same dead ends, and you wonder if anyone, anywhere, even cares. It can feel so dark and alone there. You look around and feel as if everyone else is getting the big breaks and moving ahead. Meanwhile, there you are—forgotten.
A long time ago, Israel had felt as if God had forgotten all about them. Everyone around them is getting blessed left and right, but not them. Everyone’s getting ahead, while they are left behind. When they cried out, “The Lord has forgotten us!,” Isaiah gave them these words from God: “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16.
Even when you feel completely deserted, God has not forgotten you. Remember even Jesus said these words from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” As we remember Jesus this Resurrection Sunday know you are not alone! We experience pain for several reasons—maybe we have pulled away from God and are out of His will, or perhaps that pain is building our character and pushing us to become better people. God sees the pain and He feels the hurt. Scripture tells us that every single tear we shed is counted and collected. He cares so much; and He has not forgotten. Your name is written on the palms of His hands. He’s waiting on you to step out of that rut and step forward in faith. See, God is always up to something. He has got greatness in store for you; and He wants to lead you to a life that is overflowing with abundance and joy. But, you’ve got to take that first step, and you do this by lifting your heart in praise—praising God for no other reason than for being God.
It’s easy to praise God when everything’s going well, but not so easy when you feel down and deserted. But when you begin to praise God, something miraculous happens. Praise is an act of taking your eyes off of yourself and putting them on God. And God responds! Mama, this will turn your life around! Don’t wait around begging to be “found” by God. He hasn’t abandoned you. He’s right there. Lift your voice in praise to Him and watch Him push you ahead, far beyond anything you could do on your own. Sing a song to Him. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving. Quit looking at what’s wrong and start voicing all the things that are right about your life. Those hands of His are waiting to lift you up and push you forward—those same hands that carry your name.
-Hannah
Hannah Keeley was once in overwhelmed mom living in a cluttered house, deep in debt, out of shape, and barely hanging on. But one day, after finding herself sobbing uncontrollably into a pile of clean laundry, she realized God has bigger and better plans for her (just like He does for each one of His children). Beginning that day, she began making changes in her life that took her from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Today, she’s helping moms do the same. Hannah, her husband, Blair, and their seven children live in Richmond, Virginia, and are having the time of their lives!
Check out Hannah’s Website Here!
