Growing in Faith During Your Baby's First Year - a 6 Day DevotionalSample
Beholding and Becoming
Nothing compares to that first moment you hold your wriggling, warm
baby in your arms. The exhilaration and pure delight are unlike anything
else you will ever feel. By the kindness and mercy of God, I’ve experienced
this six times, and I can tell you, it never gets old. Aside from my wedding
day, these are the six best moments in my life so far.
Having had the privilege of walking this road before, I can testify
that it’s a time of strenuous demands on our bodies and hearts. Every
new child has brought a period of disequilibrium (like that dizzy feeling
you get after riding a roller coaster) as I’ve adjusted to the new demands
of adding another soul to our family. Whether you’re welcoming your
first baby or your fifth, it can be difficult to maintain regular, close, daily
time with God with everything off balance: our routines, hormones,
emotions—in short, our normal. Regaining both our balance and regular
time spent in the Word can be challenging.
As disorienting as the first year can be, it is also a time of rare beauty
and wonder. There is nothing quite as breathtaking as a newborn: a new
life, a new soul, a beautiful possibility whose days are yet unwritten. Like
that roller coaster that takes your breath away, that first year—and
the swift pace at which your little one develops—is unlike any other point
in their lives. First smiles, first laughs, first scoots and crawls melt your heart.
This amazing life blossoming in front of your eyes is no accident,
but a carefully and thoughtfully designed creation of God. God has given
you the incredibly high and holy calling of motherhood. Whether you are
crossing the motherhood threshold for the very first time or approaching
it again, your charge is no less sacred. You have been called to mother this
beautiful child: to pray over, to cherish, and to nurture this incredible
trust given to you.
These days deserve remembering. Despite all the challenges, take the
time to record those fleeting glimpses of wonder that lead us back to the
heart of God. Record the prayers that set the tone for your child’s life. You
will cherish these. Finally, lean into your God-given calling of motherhood,
a mission of incredible importance.
While you are watching in wonder as that little marvel develops
before your eyes, I want to lead you to also watch with equal wonder the
ways of your God. I want you to, in the words of that wonderful, old hymn
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” “look full in His wonderful face.” These are
the days we hold our little ones in our arms, admiring every facet and
detail of them—watching them, cherishing them, beholding them. It is with
this same feeling of awe and wonder that I want to lead you to God within
these devotionals. As the psalmist David wrote, “My heart says to you,
‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8 ESV). What would it mean to spend a
year marveling at the face of God? What a beautiful way to begin your calling
to mother this particular child.
For moms of infants, the days (and nights) can be full. We don’t have
the luxury of much quiet time or even alone time. We learn to fit it in
when and where we can. For me, many a nursing session has become
prayer time. While washing dishes, I often meditate on a single verse of
Scripture thoughtfully and prominently placed at the window over the
sink. Coffee and Bible go hand in hand. And when I haven’t been able to
balance both my gigantic study Bible and an infant, reading the Word
on an e-reader or phone works in a pinch. I’ve learned to feed my soul
through worship music or a Christian podcast while folding laundry or
taking the baby for a walk. In short, as moms, we must be creative and
snatch time with Jesus whenever and wherever we can.
The first year of your infant’s life will be full of wonderful moments:
from first snuggles and smiles to those adorable, if not clumsy, attempts
your baby makes to sit without toppling over to messy experiments with
solid foods. While your wonder and awe of your constantly changing little
one grows, I hope your heart also grows in gratitude for our unchanging
God. As you study every little detail of the babe in your arms, from that
dimpled chin down to those kissable toes, I hope you’ll also be drawn
to notice the nuances of our God and worship the One who created and
sustains that little wonder.
So put up your feet for a moment, dear Mama, and let’s take a few
minutes together to enjoy the wonder of God and this new little life given
to you. The year will go fast, but God has called us to seize and savor
the day.
-Catherine Claire Larson
Author of Watching in Wonder: Growing in Faith During Your Baby's First Year
Scripture
About this Plan
The first year of life for your new baby is an exciting time full of milestones, and you don't want to forget a single moment. You'll feel God's presence and comfort with these devotions and Scripture selected especially for new moms.
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