Weary but Focused

When I had my first son, I quickly realized that everything I had read about motherhood had not fully prepared me for the reality of it. During the first few months of his life—and my new life as a mother—I woke nearly every two hours throughout the night to breastfeed him. I was exhausted, yet I never missed one of his cries.

Although my body longed for a full night's sleep, my mind kept reminding me, *He needs you.* So I would get up, take him into my arms, comfort him, and nurse him. The joy of seeing his little face was enough to give me the strength to keep going. I was weary, but I was also deeply satisfied to have my baby in my arms.

As I was reading John 4, the well-known account of the Samaritan woman at the well, I saw an even greater example of selfless devotion. Jesus arrived at Jacob's well in the town of Sychar after a journey that likely took three or four days on foot. He was tired, thirsty, and hungry. While He rested at the well, His disciples went into the town to buy food. It was then that the Samaritan woman came to draw water. 

Their conversation crossed the cultural barriers of the day regarding gender, ethnicity, and religion. As Jesus gently revealed both His knowledge of her life and His identity as the Messiah, her eyes were opened to the truth. She immediately left her water jar, hurried back to the town, and told everyone about the Man she had met.

Meanwhile, the disciples returned with food, urging Jesus to eat. Yet He replied, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). He explained that doing His Father's will was more satisfying than food itself. Even in His physical exhaustion, hunger, and thirst, Jesus remained focused on the work His Father had given Him to do.

Then He pointed to the people coming toward Him and said, *"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest"* (John 4:35, KJV). The harvest of souls was ready. There was no time to waste. 

Jesus is the perfect example of placing others before Himself and submitting His physical needs to the will of the Father. His priorities challenge us to examine our own. Are we so focused on God's purposes that we are willing to persevere, even when we are tired, inconvenienced, or weary?

Motherhood taught me that love often requires sacrifice. Jesus showed that the greatest expression of love is joyful obedience to the Father's will. He never allowed weariness to distract Him from His mission, and because of His faithfulness, countless lives—including ours—have been transformed.

May we follow His example and remember the encouragement found in Galatians 6:9:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Lest We Forget

Remember

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went there? I do—often. I move from the kitchen to the bedroom, pause, and draw a blank. Only when I return do I remember my original purpose. It frustrates me, and I get upset with myself. I also notice my younger son sometimes says, “I don’t remember you saying that,” to avoid following instructions. Memory is fragile, selective, and often unreliable. 

Yet, remembering is vital. In Perth, Australia, I learned a phrase that carries deep meaning: “Lest we forget.” Spoken on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, it honors the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans. Each year, people gather at dawn, pause at 11 a.m. for the Last Post, and wear or place red poppies to mark these moments in history. The purpose is simple but powerful: to remember, so that sacrifice and meaning are not lost with time. 

A similar lesson appears in the Bible. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, recorded an episode of forgetfulness after Jesus’ crucifixion. The women went to anoint His body, only to find the tomb empty and angels asking, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Then the angels said, “REMEMBER how he told you that the Son of Man... must be crucified and rise again on the third day.” At that moment, they remembered. They ran to tell the disciples, who initially thought it was a tall tale. Even Peter, seeing the empty tomb, did not remember Jesus’ words.

What a tragedy—to miss the most important event in history because they forgot what had been said.

Like the people of Perth, we must deliberately remember God’s Word. My mind may falter, but if I revisit, recite, and remind myself of His teachings daily, I will not miss the blessings of His gentle guidance until His return.

“… I will not forget Your word.”

—Psalm 119:16