My dress hangs loose but I can’t fit into my jeans yet. It’s only been a few months since giving birth to my first child when a friend stops me in the church lobby. We both carry car seats with newborns like purses dangling on arms when she pleads with me to start something for new moms. A play group, bible study, anything – because she’s desperate.
She speaks teary of loneliness, isolation and tired that smothers joy. We’re the same age, wear the same dark circles of new motherhood, but I’m the pastors wife and his wisdom shadows me capable.
I think about how just weeks before, I stood in the closet with hot tears staining cheeks, admitting to him how unprepared I felt to raise a life.
Today I’m at {in}courage, talking about the way God sometimes asks us to do something we don’t feel prepared to pull off. Join me over there for the remainder of the story and a little honest discussion.
Shelly,
First…thank you. I was, as you know one of those birds flocking to the scattered seed. No, actually since I came along a little later, when I landed there I found a blooming and sweet sanctuary-a place of healing beauty. Yes, healing beauty. You cultivated a place of authentic welcome. You welcomed with eager expectation of friendship, joy, love. There were no polite pretensions masking thorny requirements, standards, or judgements.
You have a green thumb, Shelly. You can’t help but garden. You plant, water, and weed and “God brings the increase” (I Corinthians 3:6). Thanking Him for you, for Harvest Moms, for all the friendships and for the healing and growth from those times.
And to your question-yes, God is leading me to start something that I don’t have the experience to do but God is moving and He always does so in power and perfect peace. (I love that paradox.:)
Well, your words were like a drink of cold water for a parched soul when I read them. Thank you LuAnn. So glad that we found each other through that group of Moms. And I can’t wait to hear about what you are feeling led to start.
Look at you …there @ incourage…yeah…way to go…keep sharing out of your love relationship with Him…blessings as you keep following His heart~
Aww, thanks Ro, its a privilege to be featured with the community of writers at (in)courage. Thankful for them all.
I just read your post on (in)courage as well. I’m so glad you took up that challenge. I often feel isolated being a mommy. It’s so important to find a group that can relate and where you can let your feeling run free AND have others praying for you.
Mandi, I so appreciate your coming back here to leave a comment. It really touched my heart. Yes, those early years of being a momma can be so lonely and isolating, I hope you have a place of community support as well. Nice meeting you and I hope you’ll come back.
Congrats on the post for (in)courage. Your writing is always a blessing. Thanks for your birthday blessings and I pray that your birthday is blessed and the coming year is rich to overflowing with your God-given dreams and promises coming to pass!
Thanks for your blessing Elizabeth, it means a lot to me. I’m expectant for what lies ahead in this next year as I celebrate.