Preschoolers and Peace

Wonder • Apr. 29, 2006

Remember what it was like to be expecting your first baby?

I have a sweet friend who is expecting her first, and her blog entry yesterday really touched me. It just reminded me that I need to see each of my children in this way:

Yesterday was my third doctor's appointment. Our little baby is growing and healthy. It is so awesome, and reassuring, to hear his (or her) little heartbeat. Thump-thump, thump-thump. . . 156 miraculous beats per minute. God is amazing.

Her little heart has been beating for almost as long as I've even known of her existence. And, God already knows the exact number of beats it will beat. Every beat of our tiny child's heart is counted out and each of her days is numbered. God is amazing.

I have difficulty grasping the magnitude of the fact that inside me is a tiny eternal being. This baby, measured in ounces and inches, has an infinite number of days ahead of him. God created an everlasting soul. God is, right now, inside of me, wrapping that soul in sinews and skin. God is amazing.

Hearing that heart beating so rapidly and strongly is a tangible reminder of the increased responsibility I have to pray for the baby to whom that heart belongs. To pray that she will have a soft and teachable heart. To pray that God would be gracious and cause this little one to seek and love Him early. God can hear and answer those prayers. God is amazing.

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Sharing Thoughts

On being super-organized - Apr. 29, 2006

Shared by Anonymous

Thanks for your post on being super-organized and your admonition that it is just a manifestation of self-discipline. I've started praying for self-discipline and printed out John MacArthur's short article from Grace to You on self-discipline and am working on it.

Thanks!

Emily

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Beautiful - Apr. 30, 2006

Shared by tryoneverything

I have a close friend who just had her first baby on Friday. It's brought so many memories of the wonder that comes with that first child. I admit, though, I hope she doesn't make my mistake. I didn't relish the wonder of my two middle children after her. I wanted to go back to the same initial wonder that I had with my first. I wanted it to be recreated in my other pregnancies and I really missed out. I relished my 4th baby a little differently once I realized that I was just trying to recreate a gift I wasn't going to receive again. Each baby should bring us all a sense of wonder because each one is a brand new living soul that God is forming in the secret place. And the great thing is that they will bring even more wonder once they are born (especially when you watch the horney little stinkers as they try to mount the refrigerator for the 3rd time in one day - despite the stinging swat they receive from the rod of correction. LOL!!!!) Praise God that we are given the gift of a first child and the sense of wonder that comes with those first flutters of movement. My prayer is that I will have that wonder with ALL of them.

Karen

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Friends - Apr. 30, 2006

Shared by Anonymous

Kendra,
This has been an exciting experience and a wonderful blessing. Thanks for sharing in our joy! It's a blessing to be able to learn from the example of wise women like you.
Blessings,
Rebecca

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Heartbeats - Apr. 30, 2006

Shared by Susan G.

Sometimes when I feel impatient or rushed with my little ones, I will give them a hug and listen to their little hearts beating. It is then when I realize how fragile their little lives are, how their whole existence and time with me here on earth is so numbered and could stop at any moment. I gain a huge appreciation for them. I then feel an incredible reliance upon and awe of God, to continue to beat that little heart, and a thankfulness that He began that little heart to be held in my arms.

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New Baby - May. 1, 2006

Shared by genamayo

That's beautiful. I'm pregnant with my fifth. I had a doctor's appt. today and can't even tell you whether it was my 3rd appointment (or 4th or 5th). Wow, how things change. It's amazing that I even forget I'm pregnant sometimes. May the Lord bring me closer to what it was like with my first baby.

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