Giving Glory Where Glory's Due

My transition into motherhood has been a smooth one. Carson was born without major complications. She’s an impossibly cute little girl. I bounced back from labor and childbirth quickly. Breastfeeding has gone really well. Both Carson and I have been sleeping at night. I feel great. My baby is healthy and growing strong.

And I haven’t done anything special to make it so.

God has been gracious to me and I don’t deserve it.

But, even still, I try to take all the credit.

After a comment like, “You’re doing so well with Carson, she’s beautiful and you’re such a natural.”

I’ll respond by gushing, “O, thank you. I love being a mom. She’s just such a good baby.”

That’s my response. And you guys, I have to be honest. It’s not only a ‘thank you for being so kind’ thank you, it’s also a ‘why, yes, I’ve really got my act together’ thank you. As if I had the ability to heal my body after delivering a nine pound baby. Or have the strength to maintain the relentless pace of mothering a newborn, what with the repetitive feedings and diaper changes. I didn’t collide Carson’s DNA strands in such a way that put just the right amount of fat deposits in her chubby cheeks. Or send off neurons in her brain to tell her when to flash an adorable, toothless grin at just the right time. The LORD has done it. And I’ve been taking the credit. Worse, I’ve been carelessly robbing Him of glory.

It may sound as if I’m over-thinking this one, but I promise I’m not. This is my heart, you guys. My heart that would rather quickly thank someone for work that was entirely of God. My heart that is slightly embarrassed to take the time to bring God into the conversation at all, lest I be labeled as one of *those* religious nut-jobs. Really, it’s a heart that is prideful and doesn’t readily admit my own insufficiency.

I confess that I don’t glorify God as I ought. I confess that the quick answer is easier than the thoughtful one.

And I repent.

So the next time someone says, “You’re doing so well with Carson, she’s beautiful and you’re such a natural.”

Here is what my response will sound like, “That’s very kind of you, thank you so much. God has been so gracious to my family and I. Bringing a baby home has been hard work, but God has given us the strength we needed.”

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Isaiah 6:3