Day 75, 10 weeks 5 days Undeserved

God, this little child is so helpless and weak, so unable to contribute anything "necessary" to others, so concerned with his needs alone.  Yet I would lay down my life for him.  When you look at me Lord, do You see my helplessness, my weakness, my selfishness? Yet, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). There is no explanation except for love - "how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1).  The love I have for this little baby is a pale reflection of the lavish love You continually have for me! You know my weakness, my every thought (scary!)...yet You love me anyway. You deal, metaphorically, with my poop, my screams, my demands and messes, yet treat me with teh same mercy and tenderness that I strive to show my baby. Thank You so much!!

Tip: When feeling impatient with your child, remember the Lord is so patient with you and try to extend the same grace to your little one.

Day 73 10 Weeks, 3 days Persistent

God, I pray the same things for my child nearly every day: that he'd grow healthy, that You'd protect every organ and he'd never suffer a broken bone or serious disease (cancer), that he'd grow to love and serve You faithfully, that I wouldn't mess him up emotionally.  Do you tire of these pleas? Today, You reminded me of Luke 18:1-6: the persistent widow and how she is the model of how we "should always pray and not give up." Once again, Lord, hear my  cry. This world is full of dangers, diseases and dysfunction. Please protect this child, lengthen his days with the kind of remarkable health that will make a watching world marvel and glorify You. Fill his live with overflowing joy that will cause others to be drawn to You., the true source of joy. Surround him with supportive friends, teachers and mentors, and a beautiful and faithful wife and healthy children. Guide him in his career choices and ministry and be his provider. I pray that he'd serve you until a ripe old age and depart this world singing Your praises.

Tip: Speak blessings over your child as the ancient Hebrews did and as many Jews still do (see Deuteronomy 33). 

Day 71, 10 weeks 1 day Thirsty

My body longs for many things these days, Lord - a good night's sleep, protein, energy, chocolate, and LOTS of water!  The demands of nursing sometimes causes me to drink several full glasses in a row, almost desperately. Yet, what does my soul long for?   You, even when I don't acknowledge it. "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:2). It feels like there is no alone, uninterrupted time to find my fill of You, Lord. I spend my days and nights in service to my family, finding it hard to free myself to open Your Word.  After a few days of neglect, however, "my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1).  Help me not to forsake what I need most in effort to meet my baby's needs. I need You.

Tip: Short daily devotionals in each bathroom, scripture on the mirrors and inside cabinet doors, bracelets with scripture - all these help to remind me of God's presence and truth even when I can't open the Bible all day.

Day 65, 9 weeks 2 days Kindness

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other..." (1 Thessalonains 5:15).  

Thank You, Lord that You don't expect me to always be kind, but you do expect me to TRY. I fail so often to be kind (to my husband, my child, myself, the checkout lady at Food Lion, etc.), especially when I'm grumpy and tired.  It seems that to "clothe myself with  kindness" (Col 3:12), I must wear the nature of Christ over me, for I can never even hope to "always be kind" in my own nature!  Lord, help me to rise above petty arguments, rude comments or all retribution for wrongs (sometimes in my over-tired state I even falsely perceive that I've been wronged).  I pray that you would help me to tame my tongue (James 3) and to give others the benefit of the doubt. Thank You for Christ's example of kindness.

Tip: Adjusting to baby and hormonal wife is hard for husbands, too! Clear communication, and not unspoken expectation, is vital during these child-rearing years!

Day 64, 9 weeks 1 day Compassion

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).

After 9 weeks, I've learned to let my baby cry a little longer before rushing to him and that sometimes he is just fussy and I don't know why. Yet, Lord, You call me to have compassion for this little crying one.  His needs for milk, a clean diaper, to relieve his burp or just be held and loved are simple, yet profound, and I'm uniquely designed to meet those needs.  When I'm selfishly tired of hearing that cry, teach my heart to be like Yours, Lord.  When Jesus "saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, for them for they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).  You've called me to shepherd this little lamb - helpless and needy. Help me to do so with a heart of love, compassionately looking to meet his needs. 

Tip: Some say there is a universal baby language, although I've never mastered it, of simple sounds (neh=hungry, owh=sleepy, heh=discomfort, eair=gas, eh=burb). If you listen carefully, you can get to know your child's various cries to better meet his/her needs (see Dunstan Baby Language for details).

Day 63 - 9 weeks Patience

Father, forgive me again.  I was impatient with my baby in the night when he wouldn't fall back asleep.  I felt unloving, spent, and far from Christ-like. I receive Your forgiveness, refreshing as a shower, and am so thankful that You are more patient and kind with me than I deserve - more patient and kind than I am with my own precious, innocent child.  "Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).  Help me not to condemn myself, Lord, when I fail.  I KNOW I'll never be a perfect mom, but I want so much to be a godly mother and not to be driven by my flesh and sin.  When (not 'if') I'm awakened in the night again, I pray I'll let Your Spirit move in me with grace and patience. 

Tip: It's never too early to learn to apologize to your child when you are wrong - what a wonderful habit to model repentance and reconciliation. 

Day 62, 8 weeks 6 days The Temple

2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

My body is a temple of the living God. Lord, I became aware of this in new ways as You formed life within me - a miracle, a blessings, beyond my control.  And now as my breasts nurture this baby (another miracle - the milk!), I'm aware of how all I eat and drink can affect my child's digestion and health.  I won't smoke around baby or expose us to harmful chemicals. My bod is literally NOT just my own anymore. But in truth, it never was. Once I invited Your Spirit inside, I surrendered my body to You, Lord and should have always been keenly aware of how I use or abuse Your temple.  Thank You that this baby is causing me to remember the spiritual truth that I am Yours.  Please help me care for this temple by using wisdome and caution about what I eat, watch, surround myself with; how I sleep, exercise and worship.  I am Yours, Lord. Not just for my child's sake, but for Your glory, help me to "purify myself from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" 

Tip: There are no know absolutes to avoid that cause gassiness or reflux in babies when you are nursing, but many moms agree to watch out for onions, broccoli and dairy. 

Day 61, 8 weeks 5 days - Endurance

Father, I pray that as I labor daily in love, my endurance would be "inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 1:3).  I'm not an evangelist with a huge mission field and I can't see any harvest at the end of my day except my baby's survival. Yet, I continually hope that my prayer for my baby, my demonstrations of affection and love, and my example of walking in Your strength, reading Your Word and declaring Your greatness is making an impact.  I hope this child would love and serve You in this life and "welcome the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit" when he is old enough to understand the truth of the Gospel.  (1 Thess 1:6). 

Tip: It's never too early to pray specifically about your child's future faith, marriage, career, ministry, character, etc. Write down some of these prayers so your child will know the blessings you prayed for him/her this first year. 

Day 60 - 8 weeks, 4 days - Faith

Lord, help me to "live by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).  Parenting is a great example of this. For weeks, I smile at my baby, then suddenly he smiles back.  I can pour words into my child for 2 years before I hear words coming out of him.  The return for my efforts, the witness that he has learned something, may take weeks or years. If I'm only gratified by the results I see and hear, I have a long wait. Deeper things, like teaching values, beliefs, self-control, may take many years to see in their adult character. Yet, I must persevere to teach and model for my baby to develop. I'd love to hear "thank you" for every diaper I change, but I won't hear those sweet words for at least another year.  My motivation must come through faith that my actions will reap a good harvest someday.  Lord, I must see with spiritual eyes as I live this life of faith and trust that Your Word is true and that it will not return void in me or my baby.  

Tip: Do you smile at your baby often? Usually if you are modeling smiling up close to baby, he/she will be smiling back at you by now and what a wonderful gift that little smile is to keep you going!

Day 59, 2 months Build the House

"Unless the Lord builds the house, it's builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1). God, there is nothing I can do in my own strength or ability that will truly have lasting value. I want my home to be characterized by love, joy, peace, security - but that all comes ultimately from You! "All good gifts come down from the Father of  lights" (James 1:17) .  Help me not to labor in vain, trying to juggle laundry, dishes, clothes, food, bills, etc. on my own.  You are building a house here - a foundation for this new precious life to grow on and I need to include You in every detail of the plans and the labor. Thank You, Lord for inviting me to share in what You are building. 

Tip: Sleep - Eat - Play - Sleep - Eat - Play, etc.  is a good schedule to begin working now so that baby will learn to fall asleep on his/her own without being nursed to sleep.  

Day 55, 7 weeks Exercise #2

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value in all things..." (1 Tim 4:8). I can't get to the gym or even go for a walk some days (much less get a shower!). Help me remember that getting in shape is not the most important thing right now. My perfect physical body matters little if my spirit is a mess of despair, fatigue, worry, etc. Now my maternity clothes are way too big and my regular clothes are way too small, but Lord - when I walk each day fully relying on Your love to shine through me, I look and feel great!

Tip: Create the 'rock the baby to sleep' workout - squats, lunges, side leg lifts, hamstring curls can all be done while holding the baby. Front leg lifts and kegels can be done while nursing, situps while playing with baby between your legs, pushups over the baby lying on the ground, etc. 

Day 54 7 weeks Exercise #1

My morning goal right now isn't much - 5 to 10 minutes in the Word and prayer, 3-5 minutes doing 100 sit-up crunches and a stretch before leaving my bedroom and facing the day. Many days I don't get any of this, as I jump out of bed to meet the needs of my crying baby. Once I've picked him up, usually an hour or two flies by before my arms are free again and by then 1,000 distractions have come my way.  But the important thing right now is that when I have those precious moments to choose my activity - which comes first? Lord, Your Word must take precedence - it is my true spiritual food and sword of strength for my day. As life gets more predictable, I pray I'd be disciplined to spend more time both in prayer and exercise, but help me to keep them in the right order. 

Tip - Post a scripture on each bathroom mirror and inside some frequently used kitchen cabinet doors that will remind you of strengthening truths from the Word each day.

Day 52, 7 Weeks - Pray Continually

Lord, I sometimes lie down at night and realize that I haven't talked with You at all during the day.  In Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence demonstrates how to make conversation with You a lifestyle. Help me to simply thank You for the thousands of little blessings daily - that my baby is alive, for each smile, that I can touch my toes again, for the dishwasher and for diapers! As I inwardly or verbally praise You often, I may also remember to communicate to You all my concerns, fears, and uncertainties throughout the day. "Seek and you shall find" You say - help me to seek Your wisdom, help and strength for small (how to remove poop stains, which kind of diapers to buy) as well as big needs (baby's skin rash, finance needs, etc).  I know you care about all my needs. 

Tip: Keep an old toothbrush and a spray bottle of spot remover near the washing machine. Spray and scrub stubborn stains before they go in the dryer if possible if they don't come out in the wash.

Day 51, 7 weeks "Joy"

Lord, I changed the baby's clothes too many times today (explosive poops are gross!). I've gotten spit up on all my good shirts and feel like I stink!  Yet, You don't want me to wallow in the muck of self-pity or dirty laundry. Your will  for me in Christ Jesus is to "be joyful always" (1 tim 5:16). It must be possible! God, help me to remember that this season will pass swiftly and soon my baby will be running around. "The joy of the Lord is my strength" through hard and even disgusting tasks. This is all in Your divine plan to make me more like Christ, to beautify me on the inside as I become fit to be the bride of Christ, to refine me into something precious and lovely! 

Tip: Make each diaper change a little "love fest" where you really look at your baby up close, tickling, kissing baby's tummy, smiling, and enjoying his/her tiny person looking up at you!

Day 50, 7 weeks "Set Free"

Lord, Your Word is full of the theme of exile and restoration - the Israelites in Egypt coming to the promised land, those captive in Babylon returning to Jerusalem, the prodigal son coming home! If I feel confined, it is because I'm on a journey to true freedom in Christ.  As I submit to this challenge of staying home with my infant, You are preparing me to "return" someday to a better life than I've ever known.  "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Psalm 126). Thank You, Lord, that there will be a harvest for each sacrifice I make for this child.  Just as a seed falls and dies in order to grow the plant,  I am learning to really love by dying to my own needs and desires.

Tip: plant a tree for each child.  Even if you move someday, it will be a representation of your celebration of this new life, maybe for generations!!

Day 49, 7 weeks "Confined"

Lord, I feel trapped, stuck in at home with a young child and unable to do the things I once did or have the freedom I once had.  In Your Word, You did some of Your most awesome works in people who were confined - Jonah in the whale, Joseph in jail & slavery, the apostle Paul in chains. I trust You are working all for my good (Rom 8:28) and that if I listen, You will speak to me in these "alone" times and teach and train me to glorify You in my life.  Help me to look on these boundaries as liberation (my life has been simplified to one primary focus: to meet the needs of this baby) and not limitation.  Help me to take the time to listen as You instruct and comfort me and to experience Your love, mercy, wisdom and power in a new way today. 

Ephesians 6:7

Tip:  Instead of trying to accomplish something outside the home today, stay in and enjoy your baby!