To all the precious, new mums out there, this letter is for you.
I'm not going to give you any advice (as I'm sure you've been given enough of that already!) or a running commentary of what motherhood has been like for me so far (as I'm sure you're too tired for that!). But what I hope to do is to encourage you. Even if it is just one new mum reading this, I pray that this letter will encourage you in some way.
Firstly, I want to tell you that you're doing a great job!
Maybe you have been told this, maybe you haven't, maybe you feel like you are or maybe you don't. Whatever the case, please know that you are! Each time you meet your baby's needs; each cry, nappy change, feed, hug, kiss, rock, walk, play and every little thing that goes unseen in the midnight hours shows just what an amazing job you are doing of being a mum to your little one.
Of course our babies are the most precious gift from above, but that doesn't take away the fact of just how hard it can be at times.
Even if you have a so called 'easy' baby, I'm sure there are still some very challenging moments for you to overcome. And if you have a more 'difficult' baby or one that is extra demanding or not well or who cries a lot or doesn't sleep very much, then this may present even more challenges for you to overcome.
Whatever your current situation is I'm not going to say I understand exactly what you're going through. Only you can know the full extent of that. But I do want to acknowledge that being a mum can be tough at times! Sometimes this just isn't said, while at other times it is, but comes across as something mums should just deal with.
Precious mum, you are a strong, capable and beautiful woman and your heavenly Father sees you, loves you and thinks you are amazing!
Love from the Scriptures
You are greatly loved by God! (Ephesians 2:4, Romans 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:4).
You are God's workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10).
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
You have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).
You are firmly rooted, built up, established in your faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).
God has not given you a spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
I hope you find these scriptures to be an encouragement to you as they are to me.
And finally I wanted to share a recent revelation I have had that what we are doing is the most important job, even if at times it might be hard to see the worth in the daily repetitiveness of it all.
Proverbs 22:6 says 'Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.'
So dear Mums (and of course our wonderful Dads) you are doing a great job! Keep facing each day as it comes and may the joy of the Lord be your strength!
Jo Fuller is an early childhood teacher with degrees in journalism and education. She is currently kept busy by her baby, Isaac and lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband.
Jo Fuller's archive of articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jo-fuller.html