While in the military, I stood duty called a watch, which is basically guarding and protecting a designated area (post) requiring extra security. The watchstander does not leave the designated post, under any circumstances, until properly relieved and they are held accountable for anything that happens on their watch. On a USN ship, one way to know your watch is over is by listening for the ship's bell, which sounds off a series of rings according to the hour of the day.
Mothers are also watchstanders and we stand a 24-hour high security watch. We have been ordered by our Commanding Officer, God, to guard and protect the children of the world - children in our home, school, neighborhood, church, community, children we know and don’t know. Our watch includes every child in our sight. Mothers on watch can't be biased - we must watch each child with the same level of responsibility and importance. We are held accountable for the nurturing and safety of God’s children. We have been designated an official watchstander and we must not leave our post until the ship’s bell rings. A very special watchstander heard the ship’s bell this past weekend. It's quite ironic, yet her name was Bell (named after my grandmother) and she was laid to rest Friday. Bell was a watchstander sent personally to me by God. She watched my firstborn the first three years of his life, and watched my youngest for his first two years. Yes, Bell’s passing has given the term watch a deeper meaning.
As our world faces an epidemic of child neglect and all forms of abuse, mothers joining together on this watch can make a difference in the world. When Mothers understand the seriousness and impact of our watch, young children will not be left unattended, left in unsafe environments, or in the care of those not designated an official watchstander. When is your watch over? When the bell sounds and you have been properly relieved by The Commanding Officer. Let's be prepared to stand boldly before God and report the children on our watch are safe and secure! What's happening on your watch?
Luke 21:36 (NIV)
"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
