A Mother Is Born

There’s this great scripture passage in the bible that reads “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) It’s one of those passages that reminds me that life happens for a purpose and a plan. In the words of another blogger … “it means that God has put you on this earth at this time and has placed you where you are and with the people you are with for a reason.”

It’s not a coincidence that this passage is on my heart. Just a few nights ago, my youngest daughter became a first-time mama as she welcomed a new little bundle of all things boy. While waiting for his sweet arrival, my mama heart experienced moments of anxiousness, excitement, nervousness, and of course, happiness for the new life that would soon be joining our family. In addition to all these normal emotions, I must admit, I also struggled with just a tiny bit of melancholy sadness as one life chapter closed while a new one began.

My melancholy heart flashes back to when she was a baby. Knowing she was going to be my last, I cherished all the “last baby” moments as I held her close. From midnight feedings to first school bus rides and all the moments since then, she has been (and will always be) my baby. While my other daughters grew up and began families of their own, I held on to my youngest with a fierce grip that comes from being a mother. Soaking in all the “last baby” moments I could, I continued to hold her close as sweet moments were cherished.

Watching her become a mother has been by far the most precious of moments. Following the birth of her son, she anxiously listened for that first cry. With tears streaming down her face, she asked, “Is he okay?” And finally, the sweetest answer came in the form of a newborn cry. She reached for him and cradled him to her heart with a mother's grip while whispering words of love. It was at that moment that I witnessed the birth of a new mom.

Her mama journey begins as my journey changes. And the grip that I held so tight slowly loosens as it slips from my grasp to hers. And then I realize, perhaps I was born for such a time as this.