If you’re one of the many young wives in my blog community, this is for you! The first two years of marriage are a season of incredible transition. Young wives sometimes struggle to communicate with their new husband, to understand their own emotions, and to navigate the new waters of home management and intimacy.
The little girl cooing in the bassinet joined us only four weeks ago, but with each passing day we love her more than the one before. Geneva Anne joined us on October 21st. She took her time getting here, and judging by her personality so far, that will be par for the course (unlike her sister Adeline, who had to be two weeks early and continues to operate on a packed social schedule and abundant extroversion). As I finally sit down to share her birth story, I see the grace of God for her specific entry into the world – the same way Adeline’s birth was the grace we needed for that season.
Last week I shared a little glimpse of my bible study routine on Uniquely Woman. But if you’re like me, sometimes you need to see it in writing! My bible study routine has changed over the years. As I shared in this post, worship doesn’t look the same as it did when I was a single, working professional – or even when I was first married.
In the first few months after Adeline was born I think I read close to forty books. The library was my best friend! So when I was planning for my postpartum with Geneva, I immediately started an Amazon wishlist of books to read. I made sure to include the ones I’d been wanting to own (I’m pretty picky, and keep a minimalist bookshelf!) and some new releases I’d been waiting to arrive!
To write it out feels silly and insignificant, but that’s the reality. According to my dates (which are accurate) I was due October 1st. It is now October 19th, and I am still pregnant. What’s more, my first child – Adeline – was born two weeks early, so I have been on high alert since 36 weeks. I am now 42 weeks and four days, and even if my dates are off by a week, I have been in “pregnancy mode” since the end of January. So for six weeks, I have woken up with hope and anticipation. For four weeks I have been completely ready. For two weeks I have been having contractions. And last weekend I had twelve hours of labor that fizzled out in exhausted sleep.
When I think over my walk with the Lord, that journey is marked by little altars; places where I spent time worshiping Him, laying my requests at His feet. Those places couldn’t be more different. As I moved from living at home with my family to attending to college, from college to career, from single to married and from marriage to motherhood, my times with God changed with me. In every season I had a “bible study corner”; a place I met with the Lord. But it looked different each time.
What does the Bible really say about birth? In this first solo episode on Uniquely Woman, I tackle Genesis 3 and how Christians should approach birth and babies.
New Age ideology dominates the birth conversation largely because the church has been silent besides to terrify women with whispers of “their curse.” But man was cursed too, right?
I know where you are because I’m there, too.
Dear girl,
I see you. I see you scouring the internet for articles telling you that what you’re doing isn’t wrong, that you shouldn’t feel guilty, everyone does it, you’re fine. You’ve found plenty to support what you want to hear, but somehow none say it in a way that really puts you at ease.
The shock of loss seems to steal our breath and with it our ability to think clearly. It can be extremely difficult to think of how to pray for ourselves and the people we love so dearly. Thankfully, our faith in God and reliance on Him has greater power and yields greater results than our grief.
God knows precisely how our brains function in times like these and He has mercifully given us the Holy Spirit to pray for us.
I was recently talking to a young woman who was struggling to find purpose and meaning in her current season of life. Her job was draining, her relationships felt forced, and her faith was tired. As I began to share a few things I hoped would encourage her, she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Yeah, that is easy for you to say since you actually have a job that you are passionate about… but I’m stuck.”