The first time I held my daughter, I was in a heavily-medicated stupor. I remember feeling nothing. I’ll always have some feelings about that, but one of the biggest feelings will always be the gratitude for the ICU nurse who broke the rules so I could hold my daughter 44 hours after she was born.

READ MY FULL BIRTH STORY HERE

My kind, Jesus-loving red-headed nurse knew how important that moment would be to me for the rest of my life, even if I couldn’t see it right then and there. She was so full of gentle grace, my heart would never be the same after knowing her.

That was one of the first graces I can remember from after AB was born. Almost 7 years later, and one of my biggest parenting goals stems from that experience.

Be gentle. You almost weren’t here. She didn’t meet her mama for 44 hours after leaving the beating of her mama’s heart. Be gentle.

The gentle grace of parenting in these early-childhood-elementary years comes from remembering that sweet soul you held however many years ago.

The gentle grace of parenting in these days comes from the promises you made to them when you met them:
I’ll always take care of you.
I’ll always protect you.
I’ll always love you.
I’ll do my best to show you the way.

In order to do those four things, we have to engage the gentle grace our Heavenly Father so abundantly lavishes on us. Remember how loved you are, then pay it forward by loving them well.

Loved people love people.

Be full of gentle grace for the little growing brains in front of you, so they might know how you felt when you first held them all the way through the rest of their/your lives.