FRANCE FRIDAY: "A Missionary Woman's Prayer"

La Prière d’une Femme Missionnaire

Père, mon Abba et le roi de ma vie

Je m’offre à Toi, une mère, une épouse, une fille 

Je te donne ma famille et tout ce que nous possédons

A ton service, Maître,  jusqu’à notre arrivée chez Toi, dans Ta maison.

Jésus, mon Sauveur et le Créateur majestueux de tout

Cinq cœurs répondent volontiers à Ton appel.

Conduis-nous, nous Te suivrons ; ce que Tu dis, nous le ferons

Demandes-nous et nous nous donnerons à Toi, envoies-nous et nous partirons.

 Au pied de Ta croix, nous déposons chacune de nos craintes

Nous T’offrons en cadeau, Jésus, tout ce que nous chérissons

Notre seul désir est de répandre Ta pure et merveilleuse lumière

Notre seule récompense sera un jour d’entendre Ta voix qui nous dit "bien fait"

Une prière qui vient du cœur d'une servante.

Translation:

 A Missionary Woman’s Prayer

Father, my Abba and King of my life

I offer myself a mother, a woman, a wife

I give you my family and all that we own

For your service Master until You call us home.

Jesus my Savior, majestic Creator of all

Five hearts are responding to your beck and call

Lead, we will follow; what you say we will do

Ask and we will give, send and we will go.

At the foot of your cross, we lay all our fear

As a gift to you Jesus, we give all we hold dear

Our only desire is that Your pure light be shown

Our hope of reward is to hear Your “well done.”

From a servant’s heart.

 

 Our friend, Mike LaRiviere, who wrote the newspaper article that we shared last week, also wrote this poem for an upcoming event where we will be sharing.  I will be reading it in both English and French.  As I was translating it (with some help from our friends and missionaries, the Lohneses) I had to reread it many times.  During that time, I was filled with many emotions: fear, excitement, even frustration.  One of the questions I will be answering at this upcoming event is: "You are about to take your small children, and the grandchildren of two sets of grandparents, 4,500 miles away. You will have your hands full as a wife, mother, and missionary. How will you handle all that?"  When I read this question my first thought was...I don't guess "I have absolutely no idea!" is an acceptable answer.  I do know that the struggles that I face balancing being a wife and mom and support-raising are great preparation for balancing being a wife and mom and missionary.  I am not the first woman to do it and I am confident that my God who has called our family to this, will remain with us every step of the way.  I would love to know the exact when and where and how, but as the poem ends, I am a servant.  I put my trust in the Master and look forward to the journey ahead.  Thank you for continuing to pray for us.  If you didn't catch yesterday's "DID YOU KNOW???" post, check it out here.