For the clingy days
You know the clingy days? The kind where you set the baby down and he’s crying before you even stand up straight? Not even dad’s arms are acceptable. It’s mom or meltdown. You kiss your plans and schedule goodbye, because you’ll spend your day attempting to keep everyone fed and wiped one-handed. These are the days when you’re tempted to be angry at the baby, lose patience with the other kids, wonder why this kid is so needy, complain that everybody needs mom but nobody’s asking what mom needs… you know.
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” - Isaiah 66:12-13 ESV
In His kindness, the Lord had me reading Isaiah 66 this morning, before I knew my day was about to be one of those. Take a look at the picture of ultimate comfort painted in Isaiah. This promise to Jerusalem should sound familiar to every mother - nursing, being carried on her hip, bouncing on her knees. If your baby could write their own schedule, this would be it. Nursing, riding on your hip, playing on your knees. What a picture of God’s character; how He tenderly and patiently handles His children. Psalm 103:14 says, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Like helpless infants, we depend on Him, but He doesn’t get sick of holding us, need a minute alone, or threaten to lose His mind if one more person starts crying!
On the clingy days, rest in the knowledge that your worth isn’t determined by the tasks you complete, the way your home looks, or even having the right responses in tough situations. Repent when you need to. Let the knowledge of our Savior’s character spur you on to good works. If you spend a whole day comforting, you’ve spent a whole day doing good work. Don’t grow weary.
P.S. Today you will thank yesterday you if you’ve made freezer meals for days like these.
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