As I write this, I have officially been a mother for 32 days. Needless to say, it has been a roller coaster of emotions; hormones; highs and lows; unexplainable joy; sleepless nights; overwhelming love; tears and laughter. There is nothing anyone can say to prepare you for what motherhood looks like in these early days. I know at 32 days in, I still have SO much to learn! What I have learnt, however, is this:
1. His grace really is sufficient. The first few weeks of motherhood was super overwhelming. I came home from the hospital with all these expectations of what it was going to be like, but then I slowly realise there is no instruction manual, and I had no idea what I was doing. I am an organised person, who some may say, “Likes to have all her ducks in a row”. Needless to say this was not the case in those first few weeks of having a newborn. Every day I remind myself that, even though I may feel out of control, my God is ALWAYS in control! When I feel weak, it’s the perfect time to lean into His strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
I have found in this season that I already have everything I need in my hands to face this situation. His grace (which means His supernatural enabling) is more than enough for my days, my moments, and even my seconds.
2. You are not alone. One thing I was, and still am so overwhelmed by, is the love and support I have received from other mums. They say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but I definitely feel like it takes a village to make a Mum. I would literally cry with appreciation at every text, phone call and conversation I had with another mum as they would tell me, “It’s ok, I know how you feel. You’re doing a good job.” I love that God always sends the right people to speak words of truth and encouragement for the season you’re in. You never walk alone, and beyond people, you are never alone because the Holy Spirit walks with you! He is our constant companion, a forever-strong fortress, an ever-present help, and our comforter. You are never alone. Deuteronomy 31:6 says,
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
3. I have a choice to make my natural supernatural. Every day we all get this choice: To live and operate in the natural realm (what might look like “normal” day-to-day tasks and activities) or to live and operate within a Kingdom perspective and a supernatural realm. I have found that my days at the moment are consumed by Bear’s feeding and sleeping schedules. I can get caught up in the natural task of that, or I can choose to allow Kingdom perspective to invade and turn it into something supernatural. Colossians 3:2 tells us,
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Keeping my mind on things above gives me His perceptive. Through reading the Word, worship and prayer, I can align myself with things above to turn my natural into something supernatural.
So whatever situation you find yourself in today, be encouraged by these three truths; and a huge Happy Mother’s Day to all natural and spiritual mums!
All my love, Charlie