Motherhood in Christianity

So many aspects of my life have changed since entering the world of Motherhood. You know that you become last, kids needs always trump your needs, sleep deprivation is a real thing and you’ll never have a warm meal again (totally kidding of course…😐).

Before kids I had no problem with getting up early to do my devotions and staying up late to write out some prayers. Now I barely have time to eat let alone anything else. So how do you keep your relationship with the Lord alive? Well I personally had to learn that my “quiet moments” with the Lord weren’t always so quiet. Sometimes it meant doing my lessons or devotions in the middle of a busy room, and other times during the middle of the night while the kids were asleep. My quiet moments were no longer schedule because the minute I say “I am going to sit down and do my Bible Study right now” is the exact moment when the twins have other plans for me. Maybe someone just had a blow out and need changing, or someone has an upset tummy and needs some extra cuddles. It wasn’t that the thing taking me away from time with the Lord was bad but it was still taking me away from time with the Lord.

I started taking advantage of each alone moment I got and sometimes that meant only five minutes which that meant it could take me four or five days to complete one lesson but that’s okay. I’ve learned that I need to give myself some grace during these early months and even years. It’s not like it was before kids and it won’t be the same ever again. I just have to evolve with the changing times and know that right now 5 – 10 minutes a day might be the only quiet time I get.

This has made my prayer life so much stronger though. Before I could spend hours Bible journaling or highlighting verses in my bible or writing out favorite scripture but now as I find I have less time to do those things, I have more time to be able to pray. I can pray all the time, anywhere I am and during whatever I’m doing. I can pray during diaper changes, and feeding sessions. I can have a fussy baby on my lap and still have talks with the Lord – and I do! “Lord, please help calm this baby!” But truly, to be able to pray for your child as you hold and snuggle them is one of the greatest things I’ve ever been able to do.

The final thing I’ve learned through stepping into motherhood is how much I love the nursery on Sundays. Because opening a physical Bible has become less I crave that opportunity and spiritual food. God bless those nursery workers who watch my children so I can be fed. From the very beginning I knew Reasons why I put my children in the nursery and not have them in the auditorium with me are; one, because I knew I would be distracted by them. Whether it was just gawking at how cute they are or attending to their cries I knew I wouldn’t be able to pay attention to the pastor and what he was preaching. Two, I knew I was going to be a distraction to someone else if I was getting up with them or their cries were disruptive. It’s very obnoxious to see someone get up and down continually during the service; I didn’t want to be one of them. And three, I’m one of them who believe in classes for appropriate ages. I’ve really come to love this special time with the Lord and other believers. Once the hour is up, I’ll be with the kids again.

The most important thing is to find what works for you and your schedule. Sometimes it’s reading your Bible to the kiddos and other times it waiting until everyone is in bed and letting your heart out to the Lord. However you can do it now, just know that it is a forever changing experience and what works now won’t always but to keep evolving as time with the Lord is so precious and really we can’t do motherhood without Him.

Update: August 13, 2018

Since going back to work I pump for my little ones now, every two hours. Within those two hours I find that I am able to get my Bible Study and daily devotions done. People often ask if it's been hard going back to work and honestly it hasn't. Do I miss my kids? Of course I do! But I know they are safe with my mom watching them, I get some adult interaction and conversations, and I'm able to spend more time reading my Bible while I pump. Surprisingly I think going back to work has helped with my anxiety and what I think was the start of Postpartum Depression.