Becoming Levi's Mom: My Altered Identity

"Forget being called 'Jessica'; From now on you'll just be Levi's Mom."

"When you have a child you lose your identity."

These are comments women have made to me, and sadly, this attitude about children seems to be the popular one. Somewhere along the road of raising children, mothers no longer see them as a gift, a heritage from the Lord. In light of this, let me address the previous comments, respectively.

"Forget being called 'Jessica'; From now on you'll just be Levi's Mom."

Jessica. I like my name, I do. But these seven letters do not define me. They don't reveal anything about my life or my heart or what I love. I don't swell up with pride when someone calls my name. I do, however, remember my heart filling with joy the first time that someone introduced me as "Joey's wife," and I still feel special when I'm referred to in this way. I'm sure I will feel similarly when someone recognizes me as Levi's Mom. Both of these titles define a part of who I am, my life, my heart, and what I love.

Even God is referred to by His attributes: Almighty, Anointed One, Teacher, Comforter, Bridegroom, Lamb of God, Son of God, Son of Man, Emmanuel, Father. These names add to our understanding of Him, they don't take away a part of who He is.

Maybe a better comment to make would be this: "Forget being called 'Jessica'; Now you get to be known as Levi's Mom."

"When you have a child, you lose your identity."

I disagree. First of all, my identity is found in Christ Jesus. He is the One who chiefly defines who I am. Secondly, by having a child I don't lose my identity at all, it just changes. I am going to be defined by something: my job, where I live, places I spend my time, the people with whom I surround myself, what I do, what I don't do, etc... I personally would rather be defined by my calling to be a wife and mother and everything that comes with it. This is the "job" that God has given me to fulfill. Through it the Lord has blessed me with a home, many things to occupy my time and people to spend time with. It affects what I do and what I don't do. This identity is beautiful because it is the one God has given me.

A better comment to make would be this: "When you have a child, God expands your identity."

Mothers, let's enjoy our children and view them as the gift that they truly are!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

What Guys Think About Modesty

"The highest house of congress is the domestic circle; the rocking-chair in the nursery is higher than a throne." -T. DeWitt Talmage

Quality Without Quantity?

"There is no such thing as quality time [with your children] as an entity separate from quantity time. You can never know when a moment of angst or curiosity will hit your child, and you have to be responsive to that moment or feeling in your special way. Quality moments occur only when there is quantity time for them to spontaneously occur." -Dr. Laura Schlessinger

A Work So Noble

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse into the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into its soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life...she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers and she would commit to no other's hands the sacred and holy trust given to her." JR Miller

As I read this, I wonder, what in this life can compare to the feeling of spending each day with my sweet baby? What is worth sacrificing the time I am able spend cuddling him, talking to him, helping him learn and grow, enjoying his smile, learning what each facial expression means, and loving on him as he begins to love back? The answer: Nothing. Nothing is worthy of that sacrifice. Not money, or a career; not a bigger home or more expensive clothing; not the empty satisfaction that comes from placing other duties above the calling to be a keeper at home.

The fact is, God has given me an immense responsibility in the raising and training of my son. How I choose to do this will directly affect the man he becomes. If I am home with my child, I have the best opportunity to ensure that he is being trained in the way God is leading me (through His word) to train him. I consider it a joy to be given this noble work and am thankful that God has laid out the best plan to accomplish all that was entrusted to me when my son, Levi Joseph, was placed in my arms.

Jessica

Grace

Indescribable grace fills this heart until it is bubbling over. His grace saturates and illuminates the life of this unworthy sinner. And the words won't come. No mere words to pour out this uncontainable joy and gratitude and thanksgiving. Just tears of bliss trail down my face. These tears are my offering, my praise to the Giver of life. I pray that these tears express the words I cannot speak.

Levi Joseph

gift from God ...
healthy...
beautiful...
precious son of my beloved daughter

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged..." Proverbs 17:6