You are already a mother as soon as you find out you are with child. The sacrifices that a mother makes for her child begin instantly. The food she eats, the energy she keeps, the life she speaks or does not speak over situations.

My son has yet to arrive, but he is already teaching me lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime. My son has taught me to..

1. Protect My Energy

The truth is, we have always had the power to protect our energy. As a pregnant woman, it feels like a new found strength. It's so important to choose wisely the thoughts and emotions that you carry with you. Every emotion affects your baby. When it comes to having true peace of mind, we have the power to choose what we take in. I realize that I don’t have to take on every battle. I get to choose my own narrative and I choose the peaceful route for the sake of my mental health and the wellness of my baby.

2. Hone a new level of faith

My husband and I started praying over our first child before we even conceived. We prayed for it to happen in God’s timing. We prayed that my body would be able to carry a healthy baby, and God answered our prayers a lot sooner than we expected. There are so many things to worry about in pregnancy, but I have been amazed at how God has carried me safely through each trimester. The blessing of growing life feels like it’s completely out of my hands and up to Him. I feel like I am being used to perform a miracle. I take a few moments every day to pray over my son. I ask God to protect him and to be in all the places I cannot. I am already understanding a mother’s prayer. I speak life over his life and I feel that my prayers are heard.

3. Develop a new appreciation for my partnership in marriage

I have kissed a lot of frogs in my day. I’ve dated every guy you could think of, but right now, in this season of birthing new life, I have never been more grateful for the man that God put in my path to be my husband. When we met, I was very clear about what I needed at that point in my life. God gave me that and much more. God always knows what we need. I am so grateful for a partner that has my back through thick and thin, and I am honored to be raising a child with him. I feel supported. I feel that I am in a true partnership, and I am not alone. I am confident that this child will be a part of the legacy for which we have prayed. Every Godly couple is called together for a greater purpose, and our son is just the beginning.

4. Have a deeper understanding of motherhood

The female body is absolutely amazing! I look at the women in my life that have given birth, and I have a new found respect for them. Your body goes through so many changes, and mothers sacrifice so much for their children. I am journeying into a new life where I am pouring into a child. Everything I have learned, life lessons and all, I will pour into him. The most important job a person can have in this world is helping to mold another human being. I pray that I am enough, that I am strong enough, and that the lessons that my husband and I have learned will carry my son through life. I hear mothers speak about the unconditional love they have for their children, and I can’t wait to feel that love for my son.

5. Find my voice

Most of the issues that I have been frustrated with have related to my inability to set boundaries. I have been a people pleaser and worried about being accepted first, before all else. For the first time in a long time, pregnancy has allowed me to find my voice. As a mother, I am my child’s biggest protector. I will speak for him when he cannot speak for himself. I will set the rules for his well-being. My mind is no longer focusing on what people will think of my decisions in my new role as a mother. This pregnancy has allowed me to value respect more than opinions. All mothers have different parenting styles, but I respect their decisions because, at the end of the day, they are doing the very best they can for their children. Different children need different things. I am confident in the decisions my husband and I have made for our son thus far, and I will continue to learn my son in a way that will allow me to give him all of what he needs, guilt-free.