A little over six years ago, I was blessed with delivering two healthy identical twin boys. Unfortunately, a few days later, my son Dylan was admitted to the NICU for issues with breathing and blood sugar levels. During that time as I was alone in my hospital room with my other son Kyle, he became a little fussy. I knew I was unable to stand up to rock and soothe him as my C-section incision was still tender. My husband had taken a brief trip home and wasn’t back yet, so I was trying to think of how to comfort my baby and decided to sing to Kyle. I was never great at remembering traditional lullabies, so I started singing the only slower song lyrics I could recall on the spot – John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery.”
Shortly thereafter, I felt his tiny body relax and I just cried as I held him. I still remember that exact moment like it was yesterday. It is a memory that I hold near and dear to my heart. For years, that song continued to be one of the songs I sang to the boys as a lullaby. Every so often, even as “big” six-year-olds, my guys request a lullaby at bedtime. “Angel from Montgomery” is my first choice every time. Six years later and they haven’t tired of me singing it.
As I was singing the song to them just the other night, I reflected on how nice it was to still be needed. I know six-year-olds are far from self-sufficient, but they certainly need their mama much less than they used to. It is a rare treat to be able to sing them a lullaby anymore. It is not a regular part of my job as a mom these days and I truly treasure it. I’d like to think that even if it isn’t a lullaby, they will always need me for something as they continue to grow – even as adults. I certainly still rely on my own parents for help every so often.
All of these recent thoughts have led me to think about our relationship with God, our Father. No matter how new or old our faith is to us, we still need Him. No matter how young or old we are, we still need Him. And as our Father, He is always there with open arms to help us and support us when we ask. It may not always be how we expect or in the exact way that we want, but He is there. What a gift it is to have His support through the ups and downs of our lives.
In “Angel from Montgomery”, John Prine sings,
“Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin’
Is just a hard way to go.”
Though the song is not one of worship, I would argue that God is the one thing we need to hold on to and if we believe simply in “livin’,” or the ways of the world, it will be a hard way to go about life. We need God in our lives in order to fulfill us and help us carry out his plans. Philippians 4: 12-13 reads,
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
It is in Him that we are strong and through Him that we do all things. And just like my role as parent, His work is never done.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Lisa Replogle has had a long, ever-changing journey in her relationship with Christ, and she is excited to share what she has learned along the way. She is a certified early childhood and special education teacher and currently teaches high school multiple disability support. She spends her time outside the classroom sharing her passion for dance with local groups for individuals with special needs. Lisa and her husband are the parents of six-year-old identical twin boys.
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