The Seasons of Motherhood - Maternity and Beyond

Motherhood: A Lifelong Journey

I once wrote that there are few things in this life that are as transformational as becoming a Mom. It's so true. From the first moment you realize there is a little life growing inside of you, your body begins to change...as does your heart and your mind. You begin to love this little one and have a relationship with the child that, for now, only you two can share. Your hopes and dreams begin to rise, and you prepare everything in your heart and home for the arrival of your sweet baby. This is the first step, or the first of many seasons in your lifelong journey of Motherhood.

And... your baby is born! A short and sweet, sometimes tumultuous, always life-changing, season of birthing begins and ends. And you are never the same. This season comes not without sweat and tears and demands you to face emotions and pains perhaps stronger and more challenging than you ever imagined possible. You never knew such intensity existed, and that at the end of your own strength, somehow, by God's grace and design, you came through. Your tiny little miracle was born! The child you had hoped for. The baby you'd been dreaming to meet. The child you had loved without seeing. The child whose toes poked your ribs, and whose fingers squeezed your bladder, and whose general habit was to dance when you wanted to sleep. The child with Daddy's eyes and Momma's smile and Grandma's toes and Grandpa's fingers... The child God gave you to cherish. And somehow, the love you already knew in your heart just multiplied exponentially and washed away the pain of birth and promised you healing to come. And just like that, another season begins.

Awww that first year! So. Many. Changes. Everything happens so quickly. Smiles, giggles, belly laughs, rolling over, sitting up, solid foods, pulling up to stand, starting to walk...wait, what?! My baby is walking and developing an amazing personality and this first year is slipping by waaaayyyy too fast! As your little one transitions from a baby to toddler, you watch with wonder and amazement and awe. How can my little miracle be growing up so quickly?

These are just the beginnings of all the seasons of Motherhood that are to come. You will continue to learn and to grow, to laugh and to cry, right alongside your little life-changing miracle, until one day, they are grown and married and starting their own journey of becoming mothers and fathers. (And you get promoted to Grandma! Now, there's another story worth telling! One day!)

But the truth of the matter is that every stage of life that comes, you never stop being a Mom.

You will make mistakes, but you will learn, and you will grow. And you will pray. At least I hope you will, so that by God's grace, the seasons of life that are challenging and painful (in some ways similar to childbirth,) continue to bring forth little miracles in your heart and family that will change everyone involved by God's loving kindness and tender mercy. I believe and have experienced that when you begin your journey of Motherhood, you begin to touch on the heart and the ways of God.