I sent my first Mother’s Day card to my daughter-in-law who is pregnant with her first child and our first grand. Here’s what I told her:

Welcome to the wonderful world of motherhood. You are in for the most joyous, yet stressful adventure ever! And it is so worth it! 

Children are such a gift. They bring laughter, excitement, happiness, and yes, growth. I am so pleased you get to experience this joy. (We don’t take that for granted.) God hand picked you to be this child’s mother. It is a wild ride. But you have help.

When you feel inadequate, remember God is your sufficiency.

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (2 Cor 3:5).

When you are anxious, remember God is with you.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Is 41:10).

When you don’t know what to do, remember God will give you wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (Jam 1:5).

When you don’t think you can be a mother, remember how God mothers you.

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you (Is 66:13).

When you don’t know how to instruct your children, remember God teaches them.

All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace (Is 54:13).

When you feel at your wit’s end, remember the Spirit gives you his patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control etc.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22–23).

When you don’t know what to pray for your children, remember Jesus intercedes for you.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans (Rom 8:26).

I love you and I am here for you.