Stay at Home Mom

The saying in the picture above really resonates with me. This whole year was dedicated to preparing and awaiting the arrival of my little one. We received so much love along the way, and it was easy to fill her first few months with love shown by family and friends.

Somewhere along the way, being J.R.’s parent is all I could think about. I know that she deserves my attention and love, but now I know that I should set some love and attention aside for myself. Feeling tired is normal for new parents, but making time for relaxation and rejuvenation should be normal, too.

The Bible has many instances where the great warriors of faith needed rest, but one, in particular, stands out to me at this time:

After making a queen, named Jezebel, angry, Elijah had to run for his life, literally not figuratively. Queen Jezebel wanted his life for taking the lives of her prophets. Maybe I will go into that story some other time, but you can read it for yourself in 1 Kings 18 (read as first kings chapter 18). After all that running, Elijah comes to the wilderness.

1 Kings 19:4-8 (read as first kings chapter 19, verses 4 through 8):

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

I can relate to Elijah in this text because I know how it feels to go until I can’t anymore. Our fears are different. While Elijah feared losing his life, I feared that I would not be a good mother to J.R. While Elijah was running into unsettled and uncultivated land, I have been running in this new area of my life: becoming a parent.

Just like  Elijah, God has sent angels into my life to remind me to take care of myself. They have also given their time and energy to be a part of my self-care process. Family and friends have been very supportive and poured love into my life. This has allowed me to be a better mother for J.R. Thank you, angels, for allowing God to use you in my life. I pray that you receive ten times the amount that you have given to my family.

My New Year’s resolution is to strive for one act of self-love each day. Listening to an audiobook. Taking a walk. Meditation. Yoga. Zumba. Journaling. Spending time with friends and family. Taking time with God. It would be nice to strive for more, but I will save that for next year’s resolution.

Sincerely Your Sister,

JJJ.