Dear friends,
I am honoured to be in your inbox today and as I seek to develop and nurture this privileged invitation into your days, I will be sharing short devotionals to uplift and encourage you as you go about your week. This week I would love to encourage you to look back.
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12
Last year we sought to grow our family, hoping for a fourth baby. We had envisioned this beautiful addition would just slot in and that it would be effortless.
Then the day of our first scan arrived and we discovered we were having twins. My jaw hit the floor as I nervously repeated “it’s not funny” over and over again to myself in a tone that had gone up a few octaves.
Fast forward to today and I'm no longer even thinking such a sentiment. I'm completely smitten, but it goes without saying that it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Six months in and each day still feels so hard. Certainly not the easy transition we'd envisioned.
But the greatest temptation I have to resist is this: looking forward in fear. If I look too far ahead, I find myself worrying about the difficulties that will come with each stage. What will parenting twin toddlers look like? How will we afford everything for five children? Will I be able to give enough of myself to them all?
Perhaps you too are tempted to worry about a particular developmental stage, or about what life will be like in the wake of a diagnosis your child has received, or about what your birth will look like as you look down at your ever growing abdomen.
My friend Whitney on a recent podcast said “I don't have eyes to see the future, and I’m grateful for that”. But do you know what God did give us? The ability to look back.
To remember all that the Lord has done, as the psalmist reminds us. We can look back at how faithful He has been, not only in our own lives, but through all that we see in scripture. Great is His faithfulness. Wonderful are His works. Perfect is His plan.
So dear mothers, as you are tempted to look forwards in fear, may I gently encourage you to look back instead. To remember His wonders of old. To ponder all of His works. To meditate on His mighty deeds.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
What we’ve been enjoying lately
Me- I adore all of Tessa Afshar’s writings. They’re gripping, extremely well researched and beautifully written. I personally find I can’t put them down. Her newest novel The Royal Artisan is no exception. Based on the time during Queen Esther’s life, it’s full of mystery, suspense, courage and love. A truly brilliant book.
Sefton (age 8) - thoroughly enjoyed The Unlikely Intrusion of Adam Klein. In his own words - “The story recounts the experience of Adams, an ordinary boy from the year 2197, whose life changes dramatically after being transported back in time to evade the antagonist, the Marshall. The Marshall, driven by a terrible vision, seeks to destroy Adams, leading him to alter history by saving two friends who become his close allies. Despite their efforts, the Marshalls send a series of dangerous drone attacks into the past to annihilate Adams. He miraculously survives an explosion and returns to life. My favourite moment was when the Spurlock drone explodes along with Adams's music box, a tragic event as it results in Adams's fake death during the blast. The story is full of thrilling twists and perilous adventures. Adams was my character because of his bravery, daring, and intriguing personality.”
Bethel (age 6) - she’s still very much into picture books but has been enjoying slightly longer ones, particularly this treasury of ballet stories, which are captivating told with beautiful illustrations to match.
As a family - we will be reading Heidi as spring approaches and will be using our devotional companion with it. A perfect way to ponder His mighty deeds as talked about earlier 🥹 you can find our companions here.
If you have any questions regarding any of these books or our companions, please feel free to respond to this email, or reach out to me on Instagram.
Many blessings,
Jessica
