From Part 4 … “Each of us has our own story with God. And each of us needs to work out our issues with God…We need to stop comparing our journey with others around us. What is the assignment God has called me to with regards to my children?…”
But sometimes, when we look at our children and think the responsibility given to us, we get scared. And we forget that they belong to God, not us. And that we are not to bear this responsibility on our own. So let us Be Encouraged, Not Afraid.
Be Encouraged, Not Afraid
There are so many things to be afraid of when we become mothers. It is true that only fellow mothers understand and know this. Even when the baby is in the womb we worry – why is the baby only kicking 27 times not 29, what if the umbilical cord gets all tangled up, worry, worry, worry! Fathers worry differently and over different things. God has given us mothers a special bond with each of our child that causes us to feel for them differently.
And this is actually substantiated by science! Imagine that!
Intimately connected with our children
In 2012, there was a study which revealed that every time a woman conceives a child (whether the child is birthed or not), the baby leaves behind bits and pieces of its DNA in the mother! And these bits and pieces of DNA travels ALL OVER the mother’s body and is deposited where it wills.
The article referenced here is from the Smithsonian Magazine. It reads,
“Mothers around the world say they feel like their children are still a part of them long after they’ve given birth. As it turns out, that is literally true. During pregnancy, cells from the fetus cross the placenta and enter the mother’s body, where they can become part of her tissues.
This cellular invasion means that mothers carry unique genetic material from their children’s bodies, creating what biologists call a microchimera, named after the legendary beasts made of different animals.”
So we literally know them and feel what they feel! So worrying about them is natural and normal, the way we worry about ourselves. But remember, God gave these children to us. He knows what He is doing. And every time you are afraid, look to Him. Many of our fears are unfounded – watching too many crime shows tend to do that to me! Granted, some fears are valid. In today’s very perverted world, bad things happen and happen increasingly. But either way, give them to the Lord. He loves them more than we can. We cannot be everywhere, He can. We cannot know everything and even if we could, cannot solve every problem they have. But He can! Remember,
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Fear is a natural feeling. But being obsessed with it is not. Let us be encouraged to trust the Lord. And do not forget that He gave them to us. He thinks we are the best mother for our child/ren even when we do not think so.
…Come back next week to Be Encouraged while living out the daily grind of life!…
Some questions to ponder this week :
- What are you afraid of, for your children?
- What are you afraid of, for yourself?
- How are you dealing with these fears?
- Have you sought the Lord about these fears?
Links referenced in this post
The full series of Be Encouraged
- Part 1 – Be Encouraged: Introduction
- Part 2 – Be Encouraged to see motherhood as a ministry
- Part 3 – Be Encouraged to see our children as blessings
- Part 4 – Be Encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus
- Part 5 – Be Encouraged, not afraid
- Part 6 – Be Encouraged while living out the daily grind of life
- Part 7 – Be Encouraged to know that He is the God-Who-Sees
- Part 8 – Be Encouraged and embrace motherhood wholeheartedly