Have you ever been in a season that has looked familiar to previous ones yet not quite the same? I have many times throughout my life and one thing I can appreciate about that is the reflective moments I learned. I am currently 8 weeks postpartum with our third baby as I write this and the common questions I get are, “How are you feeling? How are you adjusting to life with three children?”

When I became a mother, I knew I wanted to live a life that reflects the gospel of Jesus to my children and I desire to live out each day. I am still learning, growing, and evolving through these early years of raising children. It is a gift to instill and model a Christian life that my children can witness. My children watch my husband and I grow in our faith daily.

With all my children—I take the time to journal my entire birth story before blogging it. It gives me time to sit and process everything before sharing it out with the world. Usually, I wait some months before publishing my birth story but this time feels different.

What does displaying life as a follower of Christ (disciple) look like every day to your children? Through my first four years of mothering two children, I am grateful I had models around me who encouraged my faith to be a Christian and truly live as one to set that example for my children. As a mom raised in a Christian home, I know the ways Christ was modeled around me growing up.

Empty boxes, bags full of clothes, and decluttering necessary spaces. This was us in 2019 when we moved out of our apartment after our first year of marriage. It was the first place we called home that helped to build the beginning of our marital foundation.

As I stated earlier, I had to trust the Lord and abide in His peace when I contracted sickness three weeks before He was born. Adding him to our home has taught me how to rest from the portion of the Lord and not perform in all the things I am called to.

Over the years, I have heard people use the term servant leader. It is one thing to hear the word and one thing to watch someone live life as one.

I believe reflections are helpful because they remind us of God's goodness during every season no matter how easy or challenging a year had been.

The circumstances that caused the guilt may not change, however, we have the opportunity to submit ourselves to the Father and walk in freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit. When guilt becomes our weakness, we can boast in Christ to be our strength.

Deciding to breastfeed can be a huge transitional journey for a mother. Knowing how much a baby will require of their mother is something that is learned after they are born. One thing that encouraged my decision to breastfeed my children was knowing why I wanted to breastfeed them.