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“Dear New Mama, . I see you. Rocking that fresh little babe snug in your arms. Those pillowy cheeks begging for every one of your kisses. Tears fill your eyes, bridging the gap between your lack of words to describe the well of newfound love inside of you. . I’m standing just a few years out with another new little one of my own. I don't propose to have all the answers, but if I had the chance to sit down with you, there's something I’d love to tell you. You’re hearing lots of messages right now, but I want to share one that doesn’t make the list of clichés. It's this:” . Link in profile to read what I’d love to share with every new mom (and every not-new mom is welcome to read, too😘). . 📷 @morganhibbsphoto . #risenmotherhood #thenursingseries #wordsworthnoting
She grabbed my *baby sleep* book—the one I read cover to cover before she arrived. The one that made promises of peaceful, nighttime sleep and long, relaxing naps. She flipped open the pages, buried her nose inside, and said in her little reading voice, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” . I couldn’t help but smile. The irony of it all was not lost on me. Given the choice—sleep or no sleep—I would never have picked the tiresome road I traveled with this baby girl. But God, in His kindness, ordained it for my holiness. . Waking up multiple times a night, night after night, awakened areas of sin not so easily seen when babies abide by my carefully crafted control. Short naps revealed more sin than any achievement could. God shed His light on my darkness, and initially I was like those in John 3 who preferred that darkness over the piercing, exposing light. . Offended, I responded with bitterness, wanting the comfort of sleep at night and ease of energy and productivity during the day. It took His unrelenting mercy—waking us up over and over—and the power of the Word and the Spirit to humble my heart. . It was here that He magnified His grace over my sin and invited me to deeper dependence. As I surrendered over and over, He softened my heart to receive something better than a good night’s sleep—rest of heart. . So as she continued to read that sleep-promising book, I marveled to see gladness in my heart rather than bitterness. I worshiped the God who cares more about delivering me from my sin than giving me what I want. Who did not give me sleep, but more of Jesus. . (I write about this concept in the @risenmotherhood article, “What if Motherhood Was Meant to Be Hard?” at the link in profile.) . #motherhoodissanctifying #risenmotherhood #thenursingseries #wordsworthnoting
I’ve really been considering what James says, that desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin. That in the areas I’m most tempted and prone to sin, the desire in my heart started the process long before. . It’s a humbling thing—for my good. Humility reckons with the reality that I’m actually unable to change my desires and bids I cry out to the One who can. As He strengthens the Spirit within me, I must develop my communion with Him. I must take in His weapon of choice against the desires of the flesh—His Word. . If there’s one thing I could tell anyone and everyone right now, it’s this: memorize Scripture. Memorize, memorize, memorize. You can’t meditate without memorizing, and you can’t understand without meditation. The desires of the heart and communion with God are fueled by this process. . We also don’t know what we will need in the heat of the battle against our flesh—whether that battle be in the pressurized moments or the complacent ones. And more likely than not, the battle happens when our Bibles are out of reach or our hands are occupied. Having a wellspring of God’s Word hidden in your heart will give the Spirit resources to choose from to keep you from sin. . Do you memorize Scripture? Do you have a method or process you could share? I’d love to hear in the comments below👇🏼 . #womenintheword #lampandlight #wellwateredwomen #wordsworthnoting
I used to say, “We need to be patient,” when the moments were tense and the last thing anyone wanted were more tears or more demands. And I think that’s a wonderful thing to ask of a child to learn and to call for obedience. . But the reactions I saw over and over were not a relief from knowing what to do, but a greater burden of still being focused on self. I’m not getting what I want AND I’m not acting the way I should. We’d pray together and fight through it, but the war of it all left us worn out. . After multiple episodes and crying out to the Lord, we’ve begun to replace those words with, “Love is patient,” or “love is kind” or “love does not envy,” depending on the occasion. . Love is about sacrifice. Love considers others more important than self. Love sees the situation and releases its claim and seeks the good of another. And I see it clearer than ever that in moments where we struggle to be patient or kind or not envious is when we’re chiefly concerned not with loving another, but with loving ourselves. . O Lord, let these seeds grow in awareness of both our need of You and of Your steadfast, sacrificial, long-suffering love for us. . #motherhoodissanctifying #thenursingseries #wordsworthnoting
“Come here,” I say multiple times a day. Sometimes it’s a command, to which I expect obedience. Discipline is given when she doesn’t comply. . But sometimes it’s an invitation. “Come and let me help you. Come, and I’ll show you. Come to me; let Mommy hold you.” These are optional. She has room to express her desires and will and space to learn how to choose wisely. . Both instances break my heart when she refuses. But there’s something about the latter that brings more grief. I’m tempted to stiffen and say in my heart, “Fine, do it your way.” I’m tempted to sigh with frustration, knowing the situation could be remedied with a wiser, more experienced hand. I’m tempted to take it personally and quietly punish her with my distance. . But another response is finding its way in me, one that could only be achieved by God Himself. By acknowledging how like her I really am. By seeing the words of Scripture come alive before my very eyes. . I grieve because our God invites us to come to Him that we may live (Isaiah 55). He, the wisest and most powerful, invites with tenderness and compassion. Never saying, “Fine,” but suffering long our resistance. Never shaming us, but increasing His grace. Never twisting our arm, but magnifying His glory so we’d never have any desire to choose otherwise. . This kind of grief awakens awe. Awe that changes this proud heart to extend purer invitations, subdued by the beauty of the One who invites. . #risenmotherhood #thenursingseries #motherhoodissanctifying #wordsworthnoting