A Letter to Me in 6 Months (aka: the first time mom of a 3-mo-old)

Hey there, Mama,
You are well into motherhood by now! You've been a mom for a year now technically, but these last three months are when things have gotten real. The rubber has hit the road. Motherhood is not a dream anymore, but a very involved reality. It's six months from now, and you are a first-time mom of a three-month-old. Wow.

He's already 3-mo-old! And in that time, I'm fairly certain you have been pooped on, peed on, and covered in spit up, probably multiple times. You have spent nights sleepless, sometimes because this little one needed you, but sometimes because you just couldn't stop watching him breathe while he slept.

These three months have been spent both full of wonderment and exhaustion; new things that have involved trial-and-error, much googling, and late-night phone calls to Mom. But you've been killing it.

Yeah, you've already made mistakes. Yes, you may be desperately missing those spontaneous date nights that have been replaced by handing off the baby so that you can finally take a shower. And you probably feel like you are poorer - in your bank account and your energy levels - than you've ever been before.

But I'm writing to remind you that this little one, this precious boy, he was made for you. A carefully-crafted, specifically-designed gift, covered in your Creator's fingerprints. He has not just been growing in you for nine months and outside of you for three. He has not just been a far-off hope in your heart for years.
He has been growing in the heart of the Father since the beginning of time. He was a dream and a vision and a person that was finally introduced to this world with great anticipation by a Good God.

Nothing about his existence, his appearance, or his future is random, accidental or careless. Everything about him and who he will grow into has been carefully planned and every day of his life has been written down in great detail.

And just like this little boy has been growing and developing, you have also been growing and developing. Even though you have already felt unprepared and unequipped countless times, God has been preparing you and equipping you for this very thing. He knew what He was doing when He made you a mother, and He's going to be with you every step of the way. You are a great mom just because you're following the One who invented parenthood! (Pretty sure He knows what to do😉)

And in those moments you aren't such a great mom - when you fuss at him as a teenager, or have another meltdown because he spit up on your church clothes as you were walking out the door - you can know that God is not surprised or disappointed by your shortcomings, but ready and willing to step in and fill the gaps. In fact, the weaker you are as a mom, the more opportunities your son will have to see the strength of God in your life!

I know you're tired. I know you feel like you've been holed up in your house too much. I know there are even moments when you aren't sure if you'll ever have another moment to yourself. But God is so good. And he's with you in every poopy moment, every lonely moment, and every emotional breakdown.

He's entrusted you with a son. A young man. He has invited you to partner with Him in his development. Not only do you get to foster his physical growth and help him mature in a healthy way, you also get to build him up spiritually, to lead him in the way he should go, to set an example of what it means to seek God daily, to ask forgiveness quickly, to experience the grace of God freely, and to love people passionately. What a calling.

Keep going, stay strong, let the laundry pile just a little bit more, and stare at that face for a few extra seconds. Just don't forget that what you are doing is so important. Right now it may not feel important. Right now it may feel lonely and small and insignificant and unseen. But if your day is important enough for the Creator of the Universe to pay attention to, walk with you in, and direct every detail of, then it must be pretty important.
Linking up with some awesome parties here!