"March Forth" on March fourth.

This time last year, our family plus four other families took an unpopular stand in our community.  We did what God called us to do, and we did it in His strength, alone.  But it wasn’t easy.  Although many family, friends, and Christian brothers and sisters supported and prayed for us, there were others that we cared about who ended our acquaintance with them.

Those who agreed with the stand that we took would kindly imply things like “You’re so strong… You have so much faith…I could never take a stand like that…, etc.”  Although the words were nice to hear, they weren’t true. 

Personally, I was scared to death.  I was scared of what people would say about us, and about how they would treat our children.  I was afraid of getting in a public disagreement.  I was concerned with disappointing people and losing friends.  I tried to remain strong, but I was so tangled up in fear and stress that my hair was literally falling out.

Twila Paris’ song “This Warrior is a Child” became my secret theme song.  I would sing it with the Lord many times through out the day.

“They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just a while.
‘Cause deep inside this armor…
This warrior is a child.”

I remember that I was having a particulary hard day on March the third last year.  I was checking my Facebook status updates when I read the most transforming words.  Our church’s preschool minister is known for writing goofy status updates, and on March 3rd, this is what he wrote:  “Tomorrow is March fourth.  So, March forth.” 

God used that silly FB status to speak volumes to me.  “Tomorrow is March fourth.  And that’s just what I want you to do.  I want you to get up, and MARCH FORTH!… Stop looking around and being dismayed…stop being worried about pleasing anyone but Me… Rise up O (wo)man of God… Arise and walk… March forth in what I’ve set before you to do/be/accomplish.”

And that’s just what I did.  Praise God, in His strength, I Marched Forth on March forth… and it made all of the difference – not only in my life, but in the lives of our precious family as we continued to stand.