Meditations for the Expectant Mother by Good Brenneman Helen;Graber Esther Rose;

Author:Good Brenneman, Helen;Graber, Esther Rose; [Brenneman, Helen Good]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 5652333
Publisher: Herald Press
Published: 2015-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

SOME MODERN PRAYERS

Good-night Lord;

I’m very tired

But you were, too.

Can’t say much,

But you know all;

Even that I’m yawning.

Good-night Lord,

Secure my sleep;

See you in the morning.

—C. H.

“O Lord, help me to understand that you ain’t gwine to let nuthin’ come my way that you and me together can’t handle.”24

EIGHTEENTH DAY

A Family Affair

In the Bible there is a beautiful story of an older child’s love and concern for a baby brother. It is the story of Miriam, the sister who hid to watch a baby whose life was in danger.

Tiny Moses and his people lived in a land where they slaved for a nation that did not appreciate them. Pharaoh, the ruling monarch, was uneasy about this transplanted people who were multiplying so fast in his country. Thus he ordered all Israelite baby boys murdered upon birth.

Moses, destined to lead his people from their place of bondage back to their native land, was three months old when his mother and big sister contrived a plan to save his life. After placing the baby in a basket on the bank of the Nile River, Jochebed stationed Miriam close by as Pharaoh’s daughter came on the scene. When this gentle woman took pity on the baby and decided to adopt him for herself, Miriam was there to suggest a Hebrew nurse to care for him. Of course, this nurse was the baby’s own mother.

The coming of a new member to a family should increase its sense of togetherness. There will be adjustments for both younger and older children, and depending on their age, there will be various ways of announcing the event to them. Of course, mothers nowadays don’t perpetuate the stork myth, but try to explain the miracle of birth honestly in simple words. It is important that a baby never comes as a surprise, even to the smallest child.

We must expect adjustments and take in stride natural feelings of jealousy in children who have up to now been the center of their parents’ universe. Letting the child help get ready for the baby and later help with its care, telling stories of their own babyhood days, and reassuring them by giving them extra time and attention—these things are important in the emotional care of sister or brother.

O God, our Father, we give thanks for the child we are expecting; help us to live together as a family in love, joy, and peace; give us wisdom to be good parents, that we may all love and serve you faithfully; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.25

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.