A New Mom's Perspective- Two Peas in a Pod

BY: Rachael Burriss

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

I knew that becoming a parent, a new mom, was going to be hard. I mean, for months leading up to the birth of my twin girls, all I heard from people were things like, “I don’t know how you’ll do it with two,” or “just ask for help when you need it”. One statement, verbalizing the small, poisonous voice I have to quiet on a daily basis since the birth of my girls. The other statement, providing me with the grace of being a new mom and not always having the answers.

Every day I live somewhere in between those two statements; hanging on by a thread between uncontrollable self-uncertainty and God-given grace, loving every moment of being a new mom. I am happy to report though, that at least for us, the good has far outweighed the rough.  We have had an amazing village of people behind us throughout our entire journey of starting our family and being new parents.  Being able to lean into amazing friends and family for help has been essential.

Our family prepared our home for us when the girls made their unexpected early arrival.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

Our small group friends fed us for the first month of the girls’ life.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Our village prayed for us when the girls spent time in the NICU and we had to go back to the hospital day after day to visit them.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

It hasn’t been easy by any definition, but I group all of that into the good days, the blessed days. God has blessed us far beyond what we ever thought imaginable. One of my best friends told me early on, during one of the tough days, that this is what I was made for. That was a turning point for me. I joyfully pray over my girls as they eat, as they sleep, as we play, with every smile, cry, and coo. I soak in the joy in those moments, for these are the days I prayed so hard for, for so long. And even when the skies aren’t so blue, and I have those moments of doubt, I go to God to seek grace for my inexperience and then I seek out encouragement from the people I love. As a new parent  -  and even for those doing this for the second, third, fourth, etc. time  -  that is my best piece of advice… seek help and accept grace. You are doing your best and God’s got you.

I joyfully pray over my girls as they eat, as they sleep, as we play, with every smile, cry, and coo. I soak in the joy in those moments, for these are the days I prayed so hard for, for so long.

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About the Writer:

Rachael Burriss is a brand new mom to twins, her and her husband David have enjoyed the amazing last few months with Adeline and Vada.