A Post a Day #1: Newborn Love

Since Mr. Baby arrived two weeks ago, sleep has been scarce. We're a little used to that, but each time we go through the process, there's a bit of an adjustment and some complaining to do. For those of you new to parenting, let me pass this bit of advice a seasoned mother passed on to us when we were new parents:

Sleep is overrated and under appreciated.

You can function just fine on much less sleep than you'd think. You can also manage to get up and go when you have to. You will also realize a true sense of gratitude for a solid four hour stretch of sleep. Indeed, you will be more grateful for less sleep than you ever thought possible. Sleep is wonderful. Parenting will teach you that, if nothing else.

What does this have to do with the title, you may be wondering? 

A newborn teaches a parent so many things. First of all, he teaches you about sleep by depriving you of it. Mostly, though, he teaches you how to love. In our culture, love is understood as an emotion, a twitterpation of the hormones. In reality, love is a lot less about hormones and a lot more about deciding to love.

Parenting a newborn is like attending a parenting Boot Camp.

Parenting a newborn is parenting boot camp. Your life is suddenly transformed, you find yourself in the middle of new demands for physical and mental endurance. You've got a lot to learn in a short amount of time. You come out of those first few months transformed.

The world's best description of true love is described in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoings but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...

Who better to teach you patience, kindness, bearing, hoping, and enduring than a helpless, demanding newborn? This stage of parenting is tough. Your nights are endless. Each moment is likely to be interrupted by a cry. There's many a new parent who wonders what in the world have they signed up for?!

What does a newborn teach us? Don't worry so much about your feelings. Worry more about the beloved than yourself. Suffer a bit for the sake of her. Trust that this moment will pass. Trust that there is more in you to give.

Oh fine! I'll do it, but first tell me when I will fall in love with my baby! By doing all you can for him, by putting yourself second to her, you are proving your love rather than falling in it. Don't worry so much about your feelings. Those loving feelings might not come right away, or maybe they are there but you are too exhausted to recognize them. Just know that with all of the weight of your selflessness for this precious one behind it, when the feeling does announce itself to you, this love will be more intense than anything you can imagine.

Like all good loves, give it time and give it your all. Love Himself showed you how. Christ on the Cross teaches us that love is worth all you can give

and more...

No greater love than this...