March March I’m a March Mommy!

I read somewhere that when a child is born so is a mother. This month last year I too became a mother. 

One of the most heart rending stories in the Bible is that of a mother, Hannah. She was barren and shared her husband with a woman who taunted her for this. I am glad that the story doesn’t end there but finishes with her giving birth to Samuel, who became a great man of God and a prophet, she had other children too. Hannah is my hero because she made a vow to God and said “give me a child and I’ll give him back to you.” Her sacrifice of Samuel has a different meaning for me now that I am a mother. Salute to my hero Hannah! I pray I am that kind of a mother who will give her child back to God. 

Motherhood and parenthood have been the most amazing journey. Motherhood makes you celebrate the tiniest of things. I remember how we would celebrate our son’s burp when he was a few days old. Believe me it’s so hard to get that wind out of them  yet that act makes the difference between a happy baby and a screaming wailing tiny person.  Then I waited for his first smile and the lil man would always give me one when I didn't have my camera with me. Talk about being ill prepared!  Before I knew it, he was sitting and crawling.   A few days back he took his first steps. He has been standing for two weeks but couldn't quite muster the courage to walk. He took one step and looked at me, and took the second and a third one  before  deciding to reward himself with a clap.  I cannot describe what was happening in my heart at that moment. My heart was somersaulting, dancing around like it would pop out. There are so many more joyful moments like these that only motherhood brings. I thought I would escape the scourge of always talking about my children and thinking that they are the best thing that has ever happened to mankind. But alas I was fooling myself. Motherhood has consumed my life and I am an obliging prisoner to its grip. My best moments are when I wake up and my son is fast asleep and I can just stare at his peaceful face. I still marvel and wonder if this is my child. Did I carry him for nine months?  Motherhood also means parenthood, which has in turn left me with no doubt that I married Mr Right, Mr Perfect, Mr all the good things you can imagine. I think my husband and I make the greatest team as parents and I am eternally grateful because only God could have given me such amazing, amazing gifts.

So glad I made it through February and we are now in the month of March. I must say it has been a lot of hard work sticking to my resolutions in the month of February. The euphoria of the New Year,  a clean slate to start afresh with new goals,  looking forward to the end of the year and celebrating my accomplishments have waned off. Now comes the harsh reality of the hard work that goes into accomplishing the goals. It is so much hard work but I must say I am thoroughly enjoying the adventure. I believe in stretching myself.   Even as I say  this, the words sound wrong even to me. I mean why push yourself, why not relax and enjoy life? It seems to be more fun to sleep in, eat whatever I want, watch TV and do the bare minimum just to get by. But, and it’s a very big BUT, I have only one chance to live and I owe it to myself to put in my very best and to leave the rest to God.  If it sounds like I am trying hard to convince myself it is as you see it dear reader. I need to win myself over to the programme of working hard and I know I will play hard later too.

Update on my bible reading

 My bible reading has been going well so far.  I am reading the books of Chronicles, Samuel and   Psalms concurrently. Reading these books at the same time is  helping me to understand the Psalms better.   Let me give you an example with Psalm 18

Psalm 18 v6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Psalm 18 v16-17 He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.

He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

I read this scripture after reading about how King Saul hunted down David  to kill him and it gave this Psalm by David a whole new meaning. I could say it gives a face to the enemy he is talking about, gives context to the prayer David is making and the answer he gets from God. It also builds my faith. It reaffirms what I already know about God that He will rescue me when I am faced with an impossible situation as in the case of David running away from the Saul, the king!

Happy March, off  I go to plan birthday celebrations!