“And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.” I Samuel 1:24

There are few memories as precious as the first time we held our babies in our arms, marveling over the perfect fingers, toes, and other parts of their bodies. We checked them over carefully and our hearts were filled with joy and thankfulness for the way the Lord had blessed us.

So, Hannah must have felt as she held Samuel in her arms. The years of yearning for a child were now forgotten, as her deepest desire had been fulfilled. Her mind went back to the day when she had been praying in the tabernacle, and Eli had spoken to her. He had told her that God had heard her cry and that she should weep no more but go in peace and not be sad. Every time she fed him or rocked him to sleep, she remembered that he was only hers for a short time, and she treasured every minute.

When we send our children off to kindergarten, we find it hard to let them out of our sight. But we know that they will only be gone a few hours and then we will see them again. Can you imagine how Hannah felt when Samuel was old enough to be taken to the tabernacle to fulfill her promise to God? She had the same maternal feelings that any mother has, and perhaps she felt tempted to keep him a little longer. But her love and dedication to the Lord, allowed her to make the journey. Tears were shed, as she hugged and kissed him and said goodbye. I see her standing in the very spot where her desperate prayer had been offered a few years before and thanking the Lord for how He had answered her. She knew that God would never fail her and so she made the journey home without her son.

God blessed Hannah with other children, yet every year she sewed garments to take to Samuel. How blessed she must have felt as she saw how he was growing and flourishing in his service to God. What joy there is as we see our children living for the Lord and serving others.

Hannah gave her best, and God blessed her for doing so. We may never have to give our children away, but as we dedicate them to the Lord when they are babies, we place them in His hands, and we do all that we can to teach them that they belong to God. We pray for them and encourage them to serve in whatever capacity God leads them. We commit them to Him, and walk in peace, knowing that He will have His way in their lives.

I saw this quote today and want to share it with you:

“The hour will come when, like Hannah, you will stand on the very spot where the prayer was offered, to confess that God has given you the petition that you asked of Him. God cannot fail, and His gifts are sweetest and safest when they are returned to Him by His children.”

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your love and care for us, and the confidence that you hear and answer prayer. We commit our children to you, knowing that your plan for them is best.

Devotion by Anne Johnston

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