Dear Sister (Molly Lauderback)

Dear sister,

Have you ever looked up and realized that you don’t even know what day it is? In the pure chaos of life's hectic moments: school, work, ball games, practices, church, small groups, and everything else in between you realize that you are in a “survival mode” of not knowing which way is up and which way is down. The week starts and then never really feels like it “stops” and then it's a constant circle that leads us to September. Which if you're like me then it means it is time to plan Christmas because it will be here basically tomorrow. But in all honesty…

I’ve always heard the saying, “I’m overwhelmed by blessings”. And the older I get and more children I am adding, I feel all of the truth in it. Although most days, the only part of this saying that I can get out of my mouth is “I’m overwhelmed”. But in the midst of rushing around, surrounded by blessings, chaos of life, I often stop and wonder about where I would be without all of this. There was a time that I felt isolated. Before my husband, extended family, daughters, friends, church, career, and all the other beautiful parts of my life came into the playing field and it was “just Molly” in her season of waiting, praying and expecting. Honestly, my season of quiet was not as long as most, but during that time I spent many hours pouring prayer out of an expectant heart into what was to come. There were many goals that I set for myself and covered them in prayer. I set the bar high and patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) waited for God to “get to the good part”.

Since then, he has filled my cup (and my plate) with a busy schedule full of things that I always have prayed for. And not one of them ever came in my timing or in my way. I often find myself traveling back to that season of waiting and thinking about myself full of anticipation. Praying into a marriage that was beginning and so new. Praying into finding friendships that were rooted in Christ. Praying for my babies to enter this world and for every step God leads me in as a mother. However the only consistent thing in any of it was that I just sat… waited… and prayed. Don’t get me wrong, there were times that I had to move when God said to, but the waiting was the hard part.

During that time of waiting my favorite song was “Promises” by Maverick City Worship. It was the song that played as I the world quarantine from covid. It was the song that played when my husband and I found out we were expecting our first and second daughters. It was the song that we played every day as we waited in many unexpected seasons. Many nights of us praying together for friends and family when we just felt hopeless. If you have never heard it before, go listen to it after you are done reading this letter. In the song it says, “Though the storms may come, and the winds may blow, I'll remain steadfast. And let my heart learn when you speak a word, it will come to pass”. Wow….That’s hard to sing in a season of waiting. The word steadfast means "resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering”. Our lord will remain unwavering. That is one rest assurance we can always depend on. The Lord is unchanging. Our circumstances will change. Our season will change. Our prayers will change. But the Lord who controls it all is never changing. It goes on to say in the next lyrics, “I put my faith in Jesus. My anchor to the ground. My hope and firm foundation. He'll never let me down. No.”

I don’t know where this letter is finding you. It may be in your season of waiting, praying and expecting. When these words to this song seem too hard to sing. When your grown children have made decisions that are not Godly, or when you are a praying mom-to-be that is waiting for the words “there is a heart beat, mama”. It may find you in a season of isolation or in a season where your calendar is so filled you haven’t even found time to crack your bible. Maybe you are in the middle of praying for your dream career or you are in the moments of praying for retirement. But wherever it finds you, let me just be a gentle reminder to you… he is your anchor and firm foundation. When the world, calendar, and circumstances feel shaky, you can always turn into a place of worship where you do not have to hold the whole world in your hands and hand it back over to him. I love you sister. I am praying for you. I am cheering you on.

Your friend,

Molly

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A little bit about Molly...

Molly is a wife, girl mom, teacher, daughter, sister, and friend. Whew…what a load. She loves reading, journaling, gardening, and spending time with all of her people.