My blog this week is in honor of Mother’s Day. It’s for mothers and for those all who love them. It’s also for anyone who loved us, poured goodness into our lives, and nurtured us when our own mothers were not present, which for military families, is a reality.  

What’s it like to birth your firstborn child while far away from family and lifelong friends? 

I will attempt to describe the profound, life-changing moment your newborn child is laid gently in your waiting arms. What an overwhelming whirlwind of emotions – awe, pure joy and wonder, agape love, and an overwhelming sense of purpose and responsibility. You suddenly realize this tiny, fragile human being is part of you, an extension of your own existence. All the pain and exhaustion of pregnancy, labor, and birth immediately fade away, surpassed by the miracle of creating a new life. 

There’s an instant connection between you and your baby, a life-long bond that transcends words and logic; a primal, innate, instinct of forever love, as well as an unwavering commitment of protection that engulfs your heart and soul. 

Please allow me to shift to first-person for a moment. As a new mother, I remember holding Trey and David for the first time. Words are inadequate to capture the sense of awe and wonder I felt as I examined them for the first time. I keenly observed and marveled at their tiny hands, fingers, feet, and face with features that resembled both Frank and me, the softness of their skin. I recall being amazed that my body had served as ‘home’ for developing this new life for nine months, and that now, we were entrusted by God with the task of nurturing, guiding, and shaping this new life; to serve as a model for them and teach them how to live. I realized from deep within, at the soul-level, this life is part of our story, and that our lives would never be the same again.

You instantly become lost in this sacred moment of holding your child for the first time, unaware of the challenges and sacrifices that life will bring. Holding your baby close to your chest, feeling his/her heartbeat, stirs an instantaneous love that you know will shape your existence forevermore, knowing deep within your spirit that you’re willing to climb mountains or cross oceans to ensure his/her happiness and well-being. It’s a moment that becomes etched in your DNA. It speaks to the very essence of life and love, as you marvel at the miracle of birth, at the miracle of life itself. It’s a moment of pure magic and infinite love that transcend time, space, and eternity.

For parents and grandparents out there, what have I forgotten to share about this sacred passage? I’d love to hear from you.  

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