Connect with us

Articles

Dear Me

What would you tell yourself as a new mother if you knew then what you know now?

Spread the love

Published

on

What would you tell yourself as a new mother if you knew then what you know now?

Dear Julie,

Congratulations! You are a now a mother. Your baby girl is busy growing inside of you and you are busy reading books written by those who’ve done this before. Great job doing your homework! There are a few things, however, you won’t find in those books. A few things you’re going to need to know.

Well, one thing really.

And this is it — you can’t do this alone.

I’m not talking about needing a mentor, your girlfriends or even your husband — though some of those books aptly address all three. I’m talking about something else or rather, Someone else. I’m talking about the Holy Spirit.

No matter how many good parenting books you read or how many good parents you talk to — you’re going to need to lean in to hear His voice for yourself.

When you’re up for those midnight feedings — He’s the only One who will be there to whisper, “This sacrifice is worth it. Keep going.” When you doubt whether or not you should have left your job, He will stay you when irrelevance closes in like a prison. When your toddler pushes you over the edge and all you want to do is lock yourself in a closet with a chocolate bar, He will strengthen your arms for one more embrace. And for all the days when you blow it big — and you will — He will nudge you towards repentance and beautiful reconciliation. When teen angst turns your baby into a stranger, He will show you how to love her best. He will whisper again, “This sacrifice is worth it. Keep going.”

Trust me, those parenting tips and techniques will not cut it. Those parents you think have it all together probably won’t be around for instant advice when you need it most. Even your husband may be buried in work when a desperate situation hits. You’re going to need the power, wisdom, and presence of the Lord to do this.

He will help you. He will gird you for the fight.

Yes, I said fight.

As much as parenting is about kissing owies, nurturing tender emotions, providing daily needs and in general, loving well — it is also about fighting fiercely. Some days I wish it weren’t so. But it is.

The enemy will come for you. You will feel his breath at your back and hear his lies in your ear. Arm yourself with the truth. When he says, “You don’t have what it takes to parent this child,” tell him God says you can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13). When he compares you to that other mom you think has it all together, tell him you are committing your way to the Lord — not someone else’s — and God will act on your behalf (Psalm 37:5).

The enemy will come for your little one too. His lies will be just as vicious. He will tell you that the issues your child struggles with are too big, will never change and that the situation is hopeless. Don’t believe it. There is not one struggle you or your child will ever face that is beyond the mighty hand of God. Remember, His arm is not too short to save, nor his ear too hard of hearing as the deceiver wants you to believe (Psalm 59:1).

The best news of all — your Defender will be with you every step of the way. You are part of His mighty army. You have joined the ranks of women who nurture, protect and defend and do so in Jesus’ name. Many have gone before you and many will come behind you. You will become a formidable, compassionate kingdom warrior — quite possibly one you may not even recognize years from now.

Oh and that little one you’re carrying has a call of God on her life. It will give you great joy to see the wondrous things God poured into making her. Year after year, you will grow together and watch with amazement at how He weaves the good, the bad, and the ugly together in beauty.

No, you’re not likely to find much of this in, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and that’s okay. God is writing His own story in you, your child, your family, and this generation. And it is beautiful.

Now, put down those books and remember — you are more than a conqueror.

Love,

Julie

P.S. Go ahead and hide a chocolate bar somewhere in the closet. You’re gonna need it!

Spread the love

Julie Neils is passionate about living a real life in a fabricated world. Digging beneath the surface in her relationship with God and with others is the thing that gets her up out of bed. That and fussy little ones. And a big ol’ cup of coffee. As a media relations and branding consultant, she has spent more than fifteen years advising ministry leaders, policy makers and authors on relevant, out-of-the-box communications strategies. She and her husband, Brian, live in the Rocky Mountains where she homeschools their five kiddos.

Welcome to Ungrind!

Do you want to be inspired, motivated, and equipped to live the everyday story of your life well?

If so, you’re in the right place. Whether you need encouragement in your relationships or in your faith, I hope you’ll find the transparent voices of mentors and friends here at Ungrind.

So, grab a cup of coffee and keep reading. We're so glad you're here!

Ashleigh Slater, Founder & Managing Editor

Get Our Free Ebook!

Sign up to receive weekly emails from Ungrind and you’ll get the free ebook, Better Together. Be encouraged by stories of hope from women just like you!

Latest Articles

What Women Are Saying

"I'm in love with the conversations happening at Ungrind. The editors and writers have taken such care to develop a welcoming and authentic place on the internet for 20 and 30-somethings. When I click through the articles, a sense of connection overcomes me as I feel like the author is speaking straight to my needs as a 30-something and this makes me want to come back and interact more often. Thank you, Ungrind, for dedicating your time to encourage and lift up this generation.

-- Sarah Martin, author of Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties in a Decade of Drama

Featured Resource

"Real life is not always pleasant. Every marriage experiences disappointments, misunderstandings, sickness and financial crisis. Ashleigh doesn’t camouflage the pain in her own marriage, and offers practical ideas on how to walk through the difficulties and find intimacy on the journey. If you are anything like me, I predict that as you read, you too will find yourself laughing, wiping tears, and saying 'Oh, yes.'"

-- Gary Chapman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages

Disclosure

We are a member of the Amazon affiliate program and regularly use affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an Amazon link we provide, we will receive a small referral commission. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. We only share books, music, and products that our writers personally have used and highly recommend.

Trending

Ungrind

Dear Me

by Julie Neils time to read: 3 min