Hello again Millennial Monday readers! I have returned to work from maternity leave, and I am eager to continue along the path of the incredible fellow Millennials who stepped in and kept my blog running in my absence.
A very special thank you to all who spoke their minds and shared their hearts including: Braden East, Emma Steedman, and Hannah Hanzel. I am grateful these fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of mine were willing to step up to the plate as I spent time with my family.
Speaking of my family, we joyfully welcomed our sweet boy, Silas Dean Howsden into the world on July 16. It is true what “they” say, I’ve never known a love like the one I have for my son. With every little coo and new facial expression, my husband Casey and I fall more and more in love with the little guy.
Going back to work after eight weeks when my days consisted of cuddles and coos from my sweet baby has not been an easy task. Thankfully though, the Lord began to prepare my heart for when I would need to return to work a few weeks in advance.
It was a Sunday morning, and I was sitting in the Young Adult Sunday School class that my husband leads, waiting for it to begin. I was scrolling through my phone, as we Millennials (and every other generation) do, when on my “Timehop” app, a passage of Scripture appeared.
For those who don’t know, Timehop is an app that shows what you posted to social media on the same day, but years prior.
Four years ago, in 2014, I posted Heb. 12:11-13 (ESV) which says,
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
I had posted these verses the night before I began my last pre-season as a collegiate athlete. The first day of pre-season is a day of fitness tests, to see who put in work over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season, and it was always a day surrounded with nerves and much anticipation.
Little did I know, that years later this passage would prepare me for something entirely different—going back to work and trusting my baby in the hands of someone else for nine and a half hours, four days a week.
This discipline of leaving Silas each day and going to work isn’t pleasant, simply because I love my baby. However, I also love my job and feel the Lord has put me here for a reason, which I will gladly fulfill for however long He calls me.
I know that, later, this will yield “peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Over the weekend, my mom and sisters reminded me that while being anxious about this day is normal, but at some point I have to come to terms with the fact that Silas and his well-being are in the Lord’s hands. And that, while I prefer to be his only caretaker, being too anxious about his well-being is not trusting that the Lord will protect and keep him.
My husband and I hung a sign above Silas’ crib with the passage from Num. 6:24-26 on it that says,
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may He show you His favor and give you peace.”
It is the Lord who goes before us, who prunes us in times of uncomfortable growth, and it is the Lord who is beside us when those painful times of growth yield fruit and periods of prosperity.
Whether you are in a period of growth or a period of prosperity, I encourage you to look back on different times of your life when the Lord has spoken to you and see how they may relate to your current life situation. Be challenged and encouraged!
It is good to be back and share my thoughts with you friends! As always, thank you for reading.