A Mother's Pain
White Wing Messenger|May 2021
Jessica McCaleb Oldham is originally from Tennessee. She has been married to her husband, Van, for 14 years, and together they have four daughters. She homeschools and works part time as a nurse anesthetist in Nashville.
JESSICA MCCALEB OLDHAM
A Mother's Pain

When I was a teenager, my bedroom walls and daily planner were filled with inspirational quotes from my favorite books, movies, songs, and the Bible. One of those Bible quotes, spoken by Jesus, was, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).

Even though as a young girl I felt inspired and recognized the beauty in that statement, it was not until I became an adult that I had reason to understand it.

My childhood was perfect; ideal in every way. I grew up on a cul-de-sac, where I spent hours riding bikes, climbing trees, and playing games with my sister and neighborhood friends. My childhood was truly the childhood depicted in the best stories or movies. I was surrounded by joy and love; life was fun, memorable, and full of play. My mom and dad were my heroes, and I admired and respected them to the utmost. They taught sound theology not just by their words, but also by their lives, both privately and publicly. They never allowed the congregants’ expectations to guide the way they parented; rather, followed their own convictions, and as a result, I never strayed from the way that I was taught and experienced a deep relationship with Christ.

However, despite my sound theological teaching, happy childhood, and love of Jesus, I had grown to incorrectly understand the concept of God’s plan for our lives and His desire for our happiness.

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