As a new mother, it has required a re-adjustment of my schedule and priorities to care for this new life that the Lord has gifted my husband and I. While most of my current 24/7 is spent tending to my babies needs (as I write most of this post on my phone while my baby naps on me through his teething and eczema itching), it has given me opportunity to reflect and be reminded of many biblical truths just by watching and interacting with my bundle of energy.
From pain comes joy
Let’s rewind to when I was giving birth to my baby. In all honesty, I doubt anyone can prepare you for the full extent of child birth. I was not able to handle the contractions as well as I thought I could, so an epidural was needed and even then I had painful reactions to the epidural and could still feel the contraction pain to a certain extent. Despite this, as soon as my baby was born, the aspect of that pain completely disappeared and the feeling of joy came as I held my new baby.
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
John 16:21 ESV
Though this verse was in context to the sorrow the disciples would feel from Jesus’ death, and the joy that would come because of salvation given through His sacrifice and resurrection, the example is one that most mothers would relate to on a personal note. It is also a reminder that pain in this world is temporary and that if you have full assurance of your eternal state with the Lord, no amount of pain can rob you of the true joy you have in Jesus Christ when you are saved.
See things with a refreshed and thankful view each day
Every day, my baby looks at the exact same items and every day he always manages to be amused as he looks at these items like they are new to him. It reminds me about how we take things for granted especially when it is common place in our lives and many times don’t give God the thanks He deserves for everything.
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 5:20 ESV
Finding joy in the simple things of life
My baby currently finds fingers and toes very interesting. To us they may seem like an afterthought as we use them everyday without thinking. But to him, the fact that these body parts can move in different ways is totally fascinating to him. It’s a reminder of how we’ve been wonderfully made in God’s image and the intricacy of how our body works and moves are miracles in itself.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13–14 (ESV)
Focus on the good rather than the bad
It’s amazing how quickly my baby can be distracted with things that take his mind off of the bad to the point he forgets them. From the discomforts of teething to the challenges of dealing with cold symptoms, when you present him with something better to focus on like being able to walk around or being held by mommy, he no longer remembers the bad and has been able to take his mind off the discomfort.
For Christians, that should be our constant practice in life. To be so focused on God that we don’t take mind of the bad. Even through the bad we can find joy in the Lord because He is so much better than anything we can focus and rely on earth.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Simply having faith and full trust
My baby seems to have no worries when he knows mommy is holding him. From walking off the bed side to braving the strange sounds and movements of the washing machine, he has full faith and trust in mommy to keep him safe. Such is the faith that Jesus said we should have/desire when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Luke 18:16-17 ESV
We want to be independent, but we aren’t…
My baby wants to walk everywhere even though he has yet to master the art of balancing on his legs. But once I give him that ability to balance by holding him up, he’s zooming everywhere! His ability and gain were achieved by relying on mommy to hold him up and clearing the path for him.
At the end of the day, all of humanity and creation is reliant on the Lord for everything as He sustains all things. That means nothing good we achieve or gain comes from our own strength. On the same point, if we rely fully on the Lord just like my baby currently completely relies on me to get him from one place to another, we’ll be getting to places we never knew we could go!
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 ESV
We don’t need to be taught how to be bad
I didn’t need to teach my baby to complain when he didn’t get his way or throw a tantrum when he was frustrated about being told not to touch certain things in the house because he would hurt himself. By nature, we are selfish beings. Others will argue that babies don’t know any better but it is because they do it without even knowing that shows you the depravity of human nature. We need to be taught what is good and not the other way around. We need to be taught to be clean and organized and not dirty and messy. Bottom line, it is ingrained into us to be sinful.
…we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:3 ESV
We want our own way and not to be told otherwise. We would rather do our own thing than to be submissive to the authorities above us. However for Christians, we should understand that God is the supreme authority of what is good and shines light on the bad. The Lord has also given imperfect human authorities in our lives (Romans 13:1) to see whether our heart is in submission to Him, so we are to respect them and unless they are telling us to do something ungodly and sinful, we are also to obey those authorities with a heart doing it for the Lord.
One day my son will decide consciously that he will do something to the disapproval of his imperfect parents. But I pray that the Lord would move his heart to come to realize that his parents set boundaries and rules because of love for him and love for Christ as our responsibility should be. As he slowly grows, I pray that the Holy Spirit would help my husband and I be Christ-like examples to our son. We may not be perfect by any means and undoubtedly will make mistakes along the way, but I pray that the Lord would fill in the gaps we can never fill as parents so that our son may truly come to know the wonderful God we serve and His bountiful love for him.
