I don't want to forget what these first few months of life with a newborn have been like. Firstly and selfishly, because it will keep me content with a family of three for a bit longer. (I love babies!) Secondly, because it's good to remember. To take time to consider the birds. The pain of labor continues to fade. A few weeks after Jaxson was born I was talking to a friend about the birth. She had a lot of questions about what labor and natural delivery felt like. I was honest, but after the conversation I told Marcus, "I wonder if I made it sound too easy?" We forget! What a wonderful blessing that the pain memories fade and the joy memories seem to get brighter. Sometimes, you'll wake up three times a night to feed a hungry baby. Your exhausted delirium picks and chooses when to strike with, "Must be nice to sleep" comments directed at your man. After a feeding, when your baby falls asleep contentedly, you'll stare at him in the dim light not wanting to put him back to bed, not wanting him to grow up. I've already started indoctrinating mine that he has to dance with me at his wedding. Caffeine is effective...on babies. If you lose count and have just a little regular coffee in the morning, just a little tea with lunch, and just a little soda at community group - you may not feel even a little bit more awake. But your baby will. Some people are silly and make silly comments. Things like, "I didn't know we could bring babies here." Rude things. Ignorant things. You'll think of the comeback or smart reply five minutes too late. It's probably for the best. Baby nail clippers are evil and can make you cry. Seriously. Why have finger-safe baby clippers not been invented yet? And how do their fingernails grow so fast? "Hanger" happens more quickly and often hits in the early morning hours. Put a snack by your pillow. You'll need nearly 500 more calories a day to keep up with feedings. So the thought that you'd stop eating like a pig once you had the baby was misguided. [Hunger induced anger = hanger]. Podcasts will become your spiritual lifeline. You probably can't get away to read for an hour, but you can play podcasts while you feed, cook, and clean. Here's a few of my current go-to podcasts: Focus on the Family, The Village Church, Revive our Hearts, FamilyLife Today, and Grand Parkway Baptist. You can't do it all, and that's kind of the point. Your goals have to change with the season. You can't do everything you used to do as fast as you used to do it. That's OK. You're doing a good job. You're keeping a human alive. And the house hasn't burned down yet. It also puts your teamwork skills to the test. Will I let my man do things for me even though he won't do them like I do them? Ahh. That's like the crux of the whole thing! Letting go of control and realizing I didn't have it to begin with anyway. This is Kingdom work. How many times during the day do I get the opportunity to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the lonely? Lots. The challenge is not to rate the day's tasks on the scale of "Does this matter?" because my scale is off-kilter. It's too easily tipped by praise, money, or feelings. Don't devalue what feels mundane or small. Not every day is a Facebook post. "If God doesn't rule your mundane, then He doesn't rule you because that's where you live." - Paul Tripp Jeff Weiser, a pastor in Denton, TX says this: "Devoted, gospel-centered, joy-filled disciples of Christ are not created in a thin string of magnificent moments but in the rhythmic thumping of the mundane! Paul continues in verse 12 by exposing the beautiful consequence of living such a life: “…So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent upon no one (1 Thessalonians 4:12).” The grace of God toward us in Christ transforms the mundane into something magnificent! So magnificent, in fact, that our love, joy, contentment, and peace in the midst of the mundaneness becomes to a discontent, dissatisfied world a real-life advertisement for an infinitely satisfying Savior." So let today be a signpost. Written with a comfy T-shirt, rainy afternoon, and spaghetti with garlic toast. Jesus hasn't failed me, and He won't fail you. Don't forget.
2 Comments
Pat
9/27/2015 12:56:56 pm
Love this Kennan! So true. Communicated well to mothers.
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Kennan,
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PodcastListen to devotionals shared at FBCSA MOPS on Kennan's Podbean Podcast channel here.
Marken Media Co.Marcus & Kennan own Marken Media Co. serving the multimedia needs of small businesses. Known by the #devinecolorwall, we strive to foster a space for the community to CREATE • COLLABORATE • CELEBRATE.
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KennanI'm a lover of words. Sometimes I edit, cook, craft, or sing. I'm also a wife and mom. Categories
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