Ok, gonna be really honest right now. I’m in a hard season. And there are days when I think, “I don’t know if I can do this.”
We moved to a city where I don’t have close friends or my family to help with our kiddos and I’m feeling alone and exhausted. My kids won’t nap at the same time right now (meaning I get no break in the day) and one of them seems to think that 5:00am is an appropriate time to get up in the morning. AHHHHH!
And when I’m beyond exhausted and just want to cry all day, I find myself thinking, “I don’t think I can do this for another year.” (the amount of time we committed to being here).
But in those moments, something’s been helping. And I want to share it with you today because you may feel some of these same emotions during your labor.
If contractions start getting really intense and you’re feeling exhausted, you may find yourself thinking, “I don’t know if I can do this.”
If your caregiver checks you and you’re at 6cm but you feel like you have no strength left to keep going, you may feel overwhelmed thinking “How will I ever make it to 10cm?”
Or if you’re in the postpartum time and your baby wakes up for the 4th time that night, you may start thinking “I don’t think I can keep doing this!”
These are totally normal thoughts to have during labor & the postpartum time. Birth and caring for a newborn are huge physical and mental feats that can feel overwhelming at times. Actually, these thoughts are often the toughest part for a mom to work through – not the physical discomfort or exhaustion.
K, so here’s the secret…
In the words of Daniel Tiger (my 3-year-old’s favorite T.V. show), “If something seems hard to do, try it a little bit at a time.”
When we start to think, “Oh man, can I really do this for another 5 hours?” or “Will I ever make it to 10cm?” or “Can I really push this baby out?” or “Can I really keep getting up tonight?” or for me right now, “Can I really do this for another year?”…
We need to STOP and ask a different question.
“Can I do one more contraction?” And the answer is usually YES!
“Can I give one more push?” YES!
“Can I get up this ONE time to nurse him?” YES!
“Can I just do today?” or maybe even “Can I just do this morning?” YES!
We can do hard things a little bit at a time.
God gives us strength and grace and everything we need for the moment. He doesn’t usually pour out the strength and grace we need for the next 5 hours or the next year in the present moment though. He will provide what we need each moment as it comes, so we need to live in the present.
He promises to meet all our needs for THIS moment.
He promises to meet all your needs for THIS contraction you’re facing.
So be present. Don’t think about any future moments or contractions. Be in this one with God. Feel His nearness and care for you and receive all that He wants to give you.
Then enjoy your break (I love that God gives breaks between contractions to rest and enjoy yourself).
Then take the next contraction with Him as it comes.
You can do this! One contraction at a time. Don’t worry about all the future ones. One at a time. Little by little 🙂
Me too Beloved. I’m learning to take my life right now one morning at a time. And you know what, I’m doing it! Here I am at 5:30am writing you with a smile on my face while Ben (my 3-year-old) loudly chomps his Cheerios next to me :). We’re doing it.
Ben and I have been singing this song a lot lately and I encourage you to sing it too! “When something seems hard to do, try it a little bit at a time.”
The thing I love about Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (best show ever for little kids!!!!) is how catchy the little songs are with such great lessons in them. There’s a song to help solve almost every issue we run into during the day. And they stay in your head, popping up just when you need them. You can watch and learn this particular song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONKfxHkQPhQ.
And finally, I’ll leave you with three scriptures to carry with you into labor as well (they’ve been carrying me the past few weeks):
“And my God will meet ALL your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Philippians 4:19
“I am strong in body, robust, in sound health, and have power to do all things through Christ who endues me with strength.” Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and be not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31
You got this Beloved! Whatever is feeling hard today, you CAN DO in God’s strength a little bit at a time. You can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives you strength – and that includes pregnancy, labor, birth, the postpartum time, and so much more!
Share what’s feeling hard to you today in the comment section below. I’d love to be praying for you!
Taking today a little bit at a time,
Kierra 🙂
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