“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”  -Genesis 16: 13

This worldwide pandemic has made people & things both more invisible & more visible. Crisis, challenges, changes & uncertainties have clearly brought out both the best & the worst in us. We are living our way through an emotionally, physically, mentally & spiritually time of testing. We have increasingly found ourselves experiencing life & fears alone or isolated; pain that has made us somehow invisible. We privately question our faith. Where is our God in this darkness? Are we still visible to Him? 

In Genesis 16 & 21, there is a story of a lowly servant who felt the same way. Hagar felt invisible in her life circumstances. She did not choose motherhood. It was chosen for her. Sarai was anxious for God’s promises, so she gave her servant Hagar to Abraham so that he may have an heir. Hagar conceived & was then mistreated by Sarai who became embittered. So Hagar & her son were sent away. But God saw her & sent an angel to her with comfort & a promise. When everyone else saw an expendable woman, God saw a distressed but precious mother. Hagar then became the only one to give God the name of a “God Who Sees.” When she was invisible, as a servant & outsider, God saw her & showed her kindness, even when those responsible for her did not. God says "I see you." God is a God who not only sees, but provides when motherhood becomes a basket of blessings or a minefield of choices. 

We may not entirely relate to Hagar or have had experienced her extreme circumstances but we have been touched by that sense of invisibility & insignificance in our motherhood journey. This is why we should know about the hyoid bone.

The HYOID bone is not a bone we talk about…ever. It’s not very big or very obvious, but we would absolutely notice it, if it were missing. The hyoid is a unique bone because it isn’t directly anchored to the other bones of your skeleton. It is the U-shaped bone you can feel at the top of your throat, and it’s technically floating —attached via ligaments to the muscles at the floor of your mouth, your tongue, your larynx, your epiglottis & your pharynx. The hyoid plays an important role in some everyday activities you don’t think twice (or even once) about doing—activities like swallowing, speaking, & breathing & keeping the upper airway open during sleep. You just expect to do so.

In all the years you have been alive, have you ever had a word of appreciation for your hyoid bone? Have you ever talked about other “in the spotlight” bones & organs with a noticeable & verbal appreciation for its daily function? You rave about your ribs, knees, lungs, heart, stomach, eyes, ears …yet the hyoid bone has probably gotten no attention or praise from you. You probably didn’t even know what that bone was even called, much less what vital functions it has been performing you daily & tirelessly. However much (or little) you know about your hyoid, it’s there, every day, doing its job & making sure you can do those simple little inconsequential things like breathing, swallowing & speaking.

Abraham, Sarah & Aaron were the stars of the Israelites & whom we are inspired by, imitate & appreciate. They are who we place in the limelight with countless sermons, classes, & articles that highlight their significant impact in history. But what about those countless others in the background? What about the Hagar’s of the world, those other less visible moms? Those that fit the description of the hyoid among the hundreds of bones in our complex body?  What about you when you feel invisible?

SEEN: This article is not about Abraham or Sarah. Or even about the hyoid bone. It is more about the Hager’s of today. It is about you & me as ordinary moms who often feel invisible & obscure in the backdrop of daily life. In Genesis 16: 7-8 ‘The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”’ God sent an angel to Hagar to let Himself be seen & inquire about her disposition. Hagar responded to God’s presence with honesty & an initiative to trust & obey a God that that saw & understood her. God, through the angel, sent her a litany of promises, significance & hope. Whether you are changing diapers, changing sheets or changing priorities, some days motherhood may amount to a mundane existence in which we feel isolated & weary. But these are the exact times that we can respond to God’s presence & be seen by Him.  

Q: How will you reach out to God when you feel ‘unseen’?

Q: Like Hagar, what promises in the Bible gives you hope in your desperate moments? 

SET APART: Hagar was alone most of her days. Removed from her relationships & seemingly significance in Biblical history. A future of meaning seemed so distant. As someone marginalized, misunderstood & stuck, she needed a God that would not leave her alone. ‘Being set apart’ is Biblically defined as chosen for a specific purpose; chosen to know, glorify & honor God. God did more than see her, He chose her even as others neglected her. He included her in His plan despite her challenging life circumstances because He knows how lost we can get. 

Genesis 16:10 ‘The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”’ 

Genesis 21: 17 ‘God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.’

Do you feel that way as you fumble your way through these dark times of unknown & fear in the midst of this pandemic? Realize it is okay to be the hyoid. It’s okay to be a Hagar or the other less known women & mothers in the Bible. A lot of us are. Nevertheless, you play a significant role as a mother. God knows you & He also knows the needs of your children. God has chosen you to raise your children according to His promises & His values. As you live out your Christlike example, you are actively embracing God’s purpose for you in your family.

Q: What promises of God can you claim as a mom? 

Q: How does being chosen & living a life ‘set apart’ add significance to your motherhood journey?

SENT: 

Be determined to have a spiritual impact in your corner of life. Motherhood gives us a unique opportunity to affect history even as a hyoid bone. God chose to see us, set us apart & equally important to then send us on an important missionary journey. We don’t often get to be the ones operating front-and-center where everyone can see, making obvious & unmistakable contributions to the church or community that we’re a part of. Most of us are going to be operating in the background, behind the scenes. A lot of people might go their entire lives without being aware of what exactly we bring to the table. That’s okay because like the hyoid, we don’t need others to acknowledge its presence & role for it to be an important part of your body. It just is, by the very nature of its contribution. We significantly contribute in our homes when we commit to love, teach & mold our children according to godly values. Equally so, outside your home, the Kingdom & your neighborhood needs your voice, care & outreach that can gift others with wisdom, faith, hope & encouragement for a hurting world. Just as God has made Himself visible to us, so we in turn can help others to see & know our visible & faithful God. No matter the distractions of the current time, let us intentionally focus on making disciples as we make God known. 

Q: What personal mission has God given you in your family & in your neighborhood?

Q: In what ways can you bring a little more care & faith to others around you?

This unforeseeable crisis has brought out many ugly sides of human nature; selfishness, mistrust, anger, impatience, isolation & even hatred.  But mothers, this can be turned into a powerful opportunity to bring the good that God has planted in our hearts & make it fully visible. As a first time grandmother, I have felt incredibly blessed but at the same time I have felt incredibly responsible to ensure that our present & future generations see a host of ordinary heroes who have instead chosen to connect with one another in compassion, courage, kindness & a tenacity of faith like that of God. We will always have our challenges in which we will either choose to be bitterly overwhelmed by our circumstances or choose to bravely overcome them with God’s help. My wish for you in these unprecedented times is that you would feel privileged to join me in bearing the hyoid legacy & contribute to creating a healthier world that validates our faith, convictions & unconditional love. 

visible for God’s glory,

Jane Chin