Even though I'm incredibly grateful to have a platform to build relationships with some new moms, I have to actively surrender my reservations and fears about showing up. At the first meeting last week, I dropped Nicole off in the nursery and headed into the meeting room to attempt to greet as many as the 47 other moms that I could. Nicole had fallen asleep 25 minutes before the start of MOPS which meant that I had to cut her nap short to be on time. I was insecure about that decision and wondered if this new commitment in our group was selfishly serving me and not her.
As more moms dropped off their kids in the nursery and made their way to the main meeting room, names were being exchanged and conversations flowed freely. I couldn't help wondering if I made the made the right choice for Nicole but I put my reservations aside to the best of my ability and started getting to know the other moms at my table.
There are 11 women at the table I'm assigned to which means that each week I have the opportunity to invest in up to 10 other moms who are showing up in need of encouragement, support and community just like me. While we were chatting around the table about our families, the director of the nursery showed up, introduced herself and told us that if there is one thing she wanted us to know, it is that our children are prayed for. Her and her staff pray for our kids by name throughout the week. They pray for them as they prepare the nursery for them to arrive, they pray for them while they care for them during our meeting and they pray for them as they clean up after everyone has gone home. Knowing that a group of caring women are spending time praying for my daughter touched me in the deepest part of my soul. With tears in my eyes I thought, this is why I'm here.
It didn't matter that I dropped Nicole off a little tired. I knew in an instant that she was going to be cared for and invested in. MOPS gives both of us the opportunity to make new friends and learn more about Jesus.
None of us should have to mom alone, not only because we need each other to dialogue about things like teething and nap time routines, but also because we need each other spiritually. It is my greatest desire for Nicole to grow up knowing that God loved her so much that He sent His only Son to pay the price for her sins so that she could spend eternity with Him in heaven. Shawn and I are committed to raising Nicole in a way that introduces her to Jesus on a daily basis but we need other people to journey with us. Those sweet nursery workers are only part of Nicole's spiritual journey, but I'm so thankful they love God enough to share that love with Nicole as well.
With love,
Erica
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