A Note for the Soon-to-Be Mom

Dear momma,

I don’t know which words have been spoken over you since the day you found out you were expecting. I do know, however, that people often have plenty to say.

For this reason, I don’t want to add to the noise. I know that you are already well aware of the sleepless nights, the changes your body has undergone, the late night fears, and the new role you’re about to step into with very little training.

But has anyone told you about all the joy?

Someone gave me that encouragement about a month before I met my daughter. “You’re about to be so happy,” they said.

I decided to believe them. It gave me a soft place to land when worry crept in.

I want to give it to you, too.

You’re about to be so happy.

You’ll feel it in moments that are to be expected. The first time your baby is placed on your chest or during skin-to-skin or when you’re just staring at them as long as you’d like. Those times are long-awaited and definitely wonderful.

They’ll start smiling and laughing and that feels like a whole new world. There’s almost nothing better than interacting with the tiny person that you love so much. It becomes hard to get anything done because you want to smile at them all day.

Then they start cooing. Their eyes lock with yours, they realize that their mom is listening, and they suddenly have so much to tell you. It’s an honor to get to hear. That’s the best way to describe it.

You’ll feel it in some unexpected moments, too.

Picture this: you’ve both been crying, it’s late at night, they’re finally asleep.

And…their little hand is gripping your shirt. The sight of it is so precious that your heart swells.

Or your husband tries to gift you with a break, but the baby won’t calm down. You try to give the situation some time to resolve with no success. You finally come in from the other room, he hands them over, and they instantly quiet in your arms.

And…your initial frustration dissolves as they snuggle close to you.

You’ll soon find that there’s a lot of ‘and’ in parenthood.

All this to say, the happiness will appear in the places you thought to look and will surprise you in hidden places, too.

Either way, I’m confident it will reach you.

By the way, I’m not just confident because I heard it from another mom. I’m confident because I know that our Father enjoys us, and we get to participate in a reflection of our relationship with Him.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

Here’s to trusting Him, leaning in, and enjoying. I’m so excited for you.