I had to spend some time thinking about this one because there's always a lot of information swirling around in my head. I finally pinned down a couple of items that actually guide my life. I've broken them into categories:
What guides me as an individual
Getting married and having a baby does a great job of stripping women of their individuality if they allow it to happen. And by allow, I mean it will happen but it's up to each individual to decide to how they carry that. I'm desperately clinging to the fact that my identity isn't shaped by me at all, it's in Jesus. That's been my saving grace for the last 12 months as I've forged a path that didn't focus on a job. It was a year ago yesterday that I was no longer employed for the first time since I was 14 years old. Working defined me, so without it I was lost. Having a strong work ethic is one thing, but making it the center of your world is something else entirely. In case you hadn't gathered, that wasn't actually living it was just a way of existing.
Even though I knew that I couldn't work my way into the Lord's favor, it just didn't dig deep into my heart until about two years ago. Ephesians 2:8-9 has been my guide post ever since. It's something I try to say to myself just about every day. It's done a good job of keeping me grounded and focused on what's actually important.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
What guides me as a mom
Being a parent is hard. I knew it coming into the gig, but experiencing it for myself just changes the game entirely. I'm luckier than most because I get to stay home with Gus and teach him about the world and watch him discover something new every day. It's wonder that babies are even created in the first place, but their growth and development is so fast it just blows my mind. I never paid much attention to people saying babies are a miracle until I got to witness it for myself. It's just incredible.
So let them be littlea 'Cause they're only that way for a while Give them hope, give 'em praise Give them love every day Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle Let them sleep in the middle Oh, but let them be littleoments that I have to take a step back and realize that I can't wish time away when it's already so precious. I've already noticed how things have changed quickly: I no longer spend hours rocking Gus to sleep, he falls asleep mostly on his own. But when I do get to rock with him, I find myself singing Billy Dean's "Let Them be Little," and I rock him just a bit longer than I need to. I can't even recall where I heard that song in the first place much less any time in the last five years. Yet, it's there right when I need it. I always pray that God will keep Gus safe through the day and night, but I've started adding in that I'll be able to remember what it's like when Gus is little.
So let them be little 'Cause they're only that way for a while Give them hope, give 'em praise Give them love every day Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle Let them sleep in the middle Oh, but let them be little
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