Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Image that one day, just as you are finishing your evening meal, you hear a loud knock on your front door. You hurry to the door, but when you open it, there is no one standing there and no car in the drive or parked on the street. As you look around, you notice there is a large basket sitting only about two feet in front of the door. It is covered with a light, expensive looking blanket, on which is pinned a large white paper.
You open the door quickly and rush to the basket. In large print, only the words "CHILD OF GOD" are written on the note. Pulling back the blanket, slowly and carefully you see a beautiful baby, sleeping contentedly. It looks to be a new born. Very carefully you lift the baby from the basket and bring it into the crook of your arm, holding it close. You are awed by it's beauty and peacefullness. As you touch it's tiny hand, it grasps your finger tightly, but otherwise it does not stir. You look around to see if anyone is hiding or watching close by, but see no one at all.
Then suddenly you hear a voice that seems to fill the sky. You cannot tell where it comes from, for it seems to fill the air around you. It is a deep, beautiful, arresting voice. It speaks with authority and clarity. "This child is my chosen one," the voice says, and you know that it is God who is speaking. "I have chosen him to be my prophet in these last days to prepare the way for the return of my Son, Jesus Christ, who will come in power and glory. I have chosen you and only you, (and he speaks your name, gently) to care for and raise this child for me. Raise him as my own beloved child. Train him to know my ways. I have made you responsible for him. Go now and do my will!"
What words come to your mind, that might express what you would be feeling in that moment? For me, such words as fear and awe. I can imagine trembling all over, at having stood in God's presence, hearing his voice speaking directly to me and being given such an awesome responsibility.
Would you even look at this child as you did other children, knowing this child was sent here by God for his very own purpose?
AND YET -
each child that a mother carries in her womb, is a child that God wants to use for His own particular purpose! And I believe God's presence is there when a child is born.
Yes Christian mother, the child you carry is not your own. In fact Jesus paid the ultimate price for that particular child and HE wants you to see and understand that HE values it that much. Just because He has not told you what His plan is for that child's life, does not mean that He does not have one. HE DOES!
Always remember that the child you give birth to is a person Christ died for, values enough to pay the ultimate price for, and you are responsible for its care!
When you look into the innocent eyes of your newborn babe, and feel the rush of love sweep over you and permeate your being, remember that God loves him even more than you. It may be hard to imagine, yet it is true.
God requires of you to do right by HIS inheritance. You needn't fear or worry, however, for He is willing to guide you each step of the way, in your care and training of 'His" child. But it is important that you realize that your baby, is not only yours, and that you should not designate it's care to others, if you can help it. He put it into your hands and has made you responsible for it's care and training.
Your baby is God's and He requires that you realize it's value and not put your own personal desires, fleshly lusts, or selfish ambitions before it.
Matt. 18:10 Take heed that ye despise (Strong's, to think against, that is, to disesteem) not one if these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
This scripture let's us know that children have angels who know that they are seen by God at all times, and they can see His face. He sees what they do as concerns His little ones at all times. How much, then, is He watching the parents who have charge of His inheritance?
Of course, we can see that He expects us to feed, shelter and train our baby, but I think it is important to begin at birth, to let our baby know how much he is valued. Every tender touch and caress tells our baby that he is loved and matters. He may not know the words, 'love' or 'value' yet, but he certainly can feel them and the effects of them. When you feed him at your breast, he feels the warmth of your body and is comforted by what he receives. These actions and touches feed his spirit, soothe his nervous system and tell him he is valued. He begins early on to attempt interpreting the words he hears you speak. He may connect the words and the tones in which they are spoken with the treatment he receives when he hears them. We may well be pleased and amazed the first time we hear our baby speak a word, but he has been learning our language from birth; not only our words, but whether they are a language of love and acceptance, of indifference, warmth, coldness, encouragement or hate.
Dr. Frederick LeBoyer was one man who believed the most important event in a person's life to be birth and that the circumstances in which you were born could cause traumas that you would continue to carry around, though it be unconsciously.
I do not know if Dr. LeBoyer was a christian man or not, but I do believe God allowed him to pass on some important information.
A quote from The Free Dictionary by Farlex
Leboyer method of delivery
[ləboiyā′]
a psychophysical approach to delivery with the goal of minimizing the trauma of birth by gently and pleasantly introducing the newborn to life outside the womb. It has four aspects: a gentle controlled delivery in a quiet dimly lit room, avoidance of pulling on the head, avoidance of overstimulation of the infant's sensorium, and encouragement of maternal-infant bonding. Unnecessary intervention in the process of birth is eschewed. After delivery, the baby is gently laid on the mother's abdomen, the back is massaged as the cord stops pulsating, and, when regular spontaneous respirations are established, the baby is gently supported in a warm tub of water by the father. Many birth centers and obstetric services in the United States have found that no adverse effects result from this method. Some studies in France have suggested superior psychologic, social, and intellectual development in young children delivered by this methodEtymology: Frederick LeBoyer, French obstetrician, b. 1918
What a loving idea, to ease the tiny baby into the world; to consider his needs from his very entrance into this world! Dr. LeBoyer considered birth to be an unselfish act that no man would ever know, that should not be interferred with any more than necessary.
Truly we can trust our God with the important matters of life, which He has designed and with His most treasured possession, His inheritance, the children He died for.
Birth is meant to be an unselfish act and the beginning of a life of unselfishness, in which an individual sees her life's work (and her husband's as well) to be that which God has put in her hands, HER CHILD (His child!) In the unselfish giving and loving of a mother for her child, the child first gets a glimpse of the love of God. It is a wise mother who also tells her child of God's unselfish love for him while he is but a babe in her arms, for he is already seeing an example of that love, in her.
For those mothers who have understood this position of 'motherhood' to be of the great importance it truly is, or those who are beginning now to realize this, let me make some practical suggestions and pass on a few mothering tips for building into your child, the assurance of his value.
First, for the expectant mother, make up your mind to feed your baby according to God's design. It can never be improved upon. Do not let any selfish desires get in the way of doing what is best for your (God's) baby. The Creator of the Universe, designed the best way to feed your baby. When you feed him God's way, you also feed his spirit, comfort and soothe him, and create an important bond between your baby and yourself. It is at the breast that your baby begins learning to trust you and where he can first begin to learn of the goodness of God.
I suggest that you read 'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' by the Le Leche League International, as this can help you understand the beauty of breastfeeding but also help to prevent or overcome misconceptions that could hinder your experience.
Take time to enjoy holding and touching your baby. Your gentle touch speaks volumes to your baby about your love and his worth.
Whisper in your babies ear, that you love him, his daddy loves him and God loves him. Start at birth speaking to him of his value to his parents and God. Give him the sense of belonging. I use to tell my son " You are my boy, daddy's boy and God's boy"
Never show irritation or disgust when doing anything for your baby, even changing his diaper or cleaning a messy face. Let your care be a selfless mission of love. I am not saying you have to pretend changing a messy diaper is fun and doesn't stink, but give him smiles, talk to him about how you are going to make him feel all better, etc. In other words, let him see your love and value of him even in these things.
Value your baby above 'things'. Remember that Christ instructed us to take up our cross daily and to follow him. (Lk. 9:23) This means giving up self for others. Do not buy into the lie, that house cleaning, careers outside the home, or any other selfish activity is more important than he is. There will come a time for teaching him patience and that others are of value too; that he must think of others as well. But when he first comes into the world, it is of utmost importance that you instill in your baby, his value to you. If this is well established in your child, the rewards will be many.
Sing to your baby. You do not have to have a wonderful voice for your baby to benefit from being sung to. Singing is said even to effect literacy. Playing music by any means, whether radio or other sources is beneficial, but using your own voice is a personal experience.
Read the Bible first, and other books as well, to your baby, beginning at birth. Again, this is a personal experience you are sharing with him. It is a bonding experience and it begins to impart to him the value of books and the importance of the written word.
Simply enjoy your baby to the fullest. Take your time in doing so. Talk to him. Tell him how wonderfully God has made him; what a treasure he is to you and God. Talk to him of the fact that God has an important mission for him to do, and is going to use him in a wonderful way. Tell him how much you, his father and God enjoy him; what joy he brings to your life. Let him hear you say that you know he is going to learn many things and do many good things in his life. He should be assured of these things throughout his life.
In short, instill value into your child beginning at birth. It will make a wonderful difference in his life and you will be pleasing in the sight of the one who created him and put him into your care.
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: ...
What inheritance can you leave with your child, that will be passed on to your grandchildren, even when you have little money to work with? The inheritance of faith in the God who loved him and gave his life for him. The inheritance of salvation and eternal life. You cannot put too much time, effort or love into instilling this knowledge into the heritage of the Lord.
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