Today was a special day for our family. My Dad preformed Liam's baby dedication at our church this morning. We were a part of a small ceremony in which Kevin and I publicly expressed our desire to dedicate ourselves to bringing Liam up in the Lord. We made an earnest commitment to provide Liam with a Christian home and to raise him in the truth of the Lord Jesus' instruction, with the hopes that one day he will trust in the Lord Jesus himself. All grandparents were present, as well as other extended family members.
As I reflect on the ceremony, I am reminded that apart from Christ I will fail miserably as a Mom. It is impossible to uphold such a commitment in my own strength. I have tried many days and fallen flat on my face. The ceremony this morning was a call to raise the bar in my own life. To let Christ be first. To put aside the weights that entangle me and to run with endurance the race that is set before me (Hebrews 12:1).
Endurance. Such a fitting word for a believer, as well as a mother. We endure hardships. But we continue despite fatigue, stress, and other unfavorable conditions. But I don't think it's necessarily the continuing that's the hard part. I think the hard part is continuing with joy. Continuing with peace. Continuing with patience. Continuing with kindness. Continuing with goodness. Continuing with faithfulness. Continuing with gentleness. Continuing with self-control.
That's why I need Jesus. Most days those words aren't the words that I use to describe my days. I want them to be, but I can't attain that in my own strength. I am desperate for Jesus. And today was a wonderful reminder that the days of early motherhood were never meant to be lived in a mother's own strength. They were meant to be the days in which young mothers fall into the arms of Jesus and learn to rely on Him with the exact same dependance that precious babies have for their mothers. Liam depends on me for his life. And I depend on Jesus for mine.