So I think that it is safe to say that this baby has been on my mind a lot the last few months! It’s an exciting time of preparation and of expectancy… and questions. Lots and lots of questions.

Boy or girl?

Will he/she be a redhead?

What will this child sound like? (I mean, he/she has a Texan mom, a South African dad, and lives in Madagascar. The accent will have to be unusual!)

These are the basic questions, but there are also a lot of deeper questions. Not just about the baby, but about me.

 Am I really ready to parent this child?

What if those “motherly instincts” don’t just kick in like everyone says they do?

What about… (insert  more questions here)?

But y’all, God is so good. Every time these questions and worries start showing their ugly heads, the Lord reminds me of this scripture:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

He has given us everything that we need to live a Godly life. This verse has been so reassuring for the past few months. He has given it to me. I just get to reap the benefits!

And as my questions transfer away from me and onto this child that God has given Reinier and I, I am reminded about the story of David. I am currently in a Bible Study where we are going over this story, but I’ve always looked at it from a different angle than the study shows.

Basically, David realizes that he is living in a “palace of cedar while the ark of God remains in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:2).  He wants to build something greater for the presence of God. God then responds that it isn’t his responsibility and that He will actually build David a house!

But the part that has always been in my mind is in 2 Samuel 7:12-13. God says that he will raise David up an offspring and it’s his son that will build a house for Him.

God was calling His son to do what the father was not called to.

Psalm 127: 4 says, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.”

You see an arrow goes further than the one releasing it. If the arrow stays in the pouch, it hasn’t fulfilled its purpose. If the arrow falls to the ground next to the warrior, it hasn’t done what it was destined to do.

An arrow fulfills its purpose when it goes further than the one releasing it. The arrow does what it is destined to do by being released from the hands of the warrior into the direction of the enemy.

My prayer as I begin this parenting journey is that I prepare my child for the life of Godliness, but that I’m also brave enough to release the child into the will of God. When that time comes, I want him/her to do more than what I was ever called to. I want him/her to go further than I ever will. I want to see God instill a fresh vision for the ministry. I want to pray for this child, encourage this child, and then sit back and watch how God uses him/her to fulfill His will.

And guess what? 2 Peter 1:3 will apply to “Baby Vorster” as well. God will give this child EVERYTHING he/she needs for life and Godliness.

Thank you Jesus.

-Kristen

P.S. Here is a cute picture of our little one. Baby V has grown a lot since this photo, but who doesn’t love showing off pics of their kid? 😉