Remember. Hope.
I've never been much of a journal-keeper. Oh sure, I had the "locked" Minnie Mouse diary of an elementary school-aged kid where I recorded how I was mad at "Sally" because she played with "Susie" more than me. (Ah, maturity.) I'm pretty sure that diary didn't move with me when I packed up my room at Mom and Dad's. I guess those were days I'd rather forget.
The closest thing I keep to a journal now are baby books, baby calendars and my planner.
Call me strange, but I still have my planner from 2012. And 2013. My planners include the mundane things of life: to-do lists (confession: often times, I write something down "to do" after accomplishing it just to make it look like I did more that day), grocery lists, doctor appointments, meetings. But there's also the exciting things like family camps, trips to visit family across the Midwest, weddings, coffee dates with friends.
After Ezekiel was born in 2012, my planner started holding another purpose: I wrote down his feeding schedule. I think, at first, it was to help me determine any sort of pattern to his waking and eating at night. And, in those early newborn hazy days of exhaustion, I think it also served to remind me that, yes, I did indeed feed the kid. For whatever reason, when 2012 came to a close, I decided to keep that planner. Two years later, I'm glad I did.
Once again, I'm keeping track of an infant's feeding schedule. And admittedly, there are nights where I think "Was Zeke like this? Wasn't he sleeping longer stretches at this point? Didn't he give me more of a break?"
It's reminded me that, although our son has always been a great sleeper for us, he too, woke up to eat.
It's reminded me that some nights were better than others.
It's reminded me that there will come a day when Micaiah will sleep through the night.
It's reminded me that I won't be nursing her seven times a day for long.
It's reminded me that this stage may seem long now, but goes by way too quickly.
As I've looked back at that little planner, I've begun to wish that I actually kept a journal. At least a prayer journal.
Because it's easy to pray, to send up requests.
But it's harder to be patient as we await an answer to those prayers.
And unfortunately, sometimes, it's even harder to remember the answers to our prayers --especially when the Lord's timeline is different than ours. And when His thoughts and plans are bigger and better than ours.
I was thinking back this week to prayers I prayed before our little girl was born. And amazed at how wonderfully the Lord has answered those prayers.
What if I was a more diligent, intentional prayer warrior? And what if I recorded how the Lord worked in each situation?
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23
The closest thing I keep to a journal now are baby books, baby calendars and my planner.
Call me strange, but I still have my planner from 2012. And 2013. My planners include the mundane things of life: to-do lists (confession: often times, I write something down "to do" after accomplishing it just to make it look like I did more that day), grocery lists, doctor appointments, meetings. But there's also the exciting things like family camps, trips to visit family across the Midwest, weddings, coffee dates with friends.
After Ezekiel was born in 2012, my planner started holding another purpose: I wrote down his feeding schedule. I think, at first, it was to help me determine any sort of pattern to his waking and eating at night. And, in those early newborn hazy days of exhaustion, I think it also served to remind me that, yes, I did indeed feed the kid. For whatever reason, when 2012 came to a close, I decided to keep that planner. Two years later, I'm glad I did.
Once again, I'm keeping track of an infant's feeding schedule. And admittedly, there are nights where I think "Was Zeke like this? Wasn't he sleeping longer stretches at this point? Didn't he give me more of a break?"
I've found a lot of hope in that planner as I nurture and nurse our little girl.
It's reminded me that, although our son has always been a great sleeper for us, he too, woke up to eat.
It's reminded me that some nights were better than others.
It's reminded me that there will come a day when Micaiah will sleep through the night.
It's reminded me that I won't be nursing her seven times a day for long.
It's reminded me that this stage may seem long now, but goes by way too quickly.
As I've looked back at that little planner, I've begun to wish that I actually kept a journal. At least a prayer journal.
Because it's easy to pray, to send up requests.
But it's harder to be patient as we await an answer to those prayers.
And unfortunately, sometimes, it's even harder to remember the answers to our prayers --especially when the Lord's timeline is different than ours. And when His thoughts and plans are bigger and better than ours.
I was thinking back this week to prayers I prayed before our little girl was born. And amazed at how wonderfully the Lord has answered those prayers.
I didn't want the option of an epidural.
Micaiah was born 22 minutes after being checked into the hospital computer system.
I prayed that Ezekiel would do well in the transition of having a baby sister around and love her.
Micaiah gets abundant hugs and kisses from Zeke and has never asked us to return her.
I prayed the Lord would bless us with another happy, healthy, content baby.
Micaiah truly gives us no reason to complain. She is happy, healthy, and content. And such a joy to us!
What if I was a more diligent, intentional prayer warrior? And what if I recorded how the Lord worked in each situation?
I am confident I would be amazed.
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23
"'Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days - you would not believe if you were told.'" - Habakkuk 1:5
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