The Year I Became a Mom by Brittany Brewer

One early December morning, around 4 a.m., I woke to what I knew was contractions. I was 41 weeks and 6 days pregnant, and these were not Braxton Hicks.  Around 5 a.m. I woke my husband and had him walk the neighborhood with me. I was not worried about the cold December air. I was ready to meet our daughter. Twenty-seven hours later, I did meet our daughter, but this isn’t that story. This is the story about the year I became a mom.

I love people. I love saying yes to just about any request. I’m extremely extroverted, and my need to be around others can sometimes be crippling. It should be no surprise, then, that the realization of the world coming to a halt in early spring of 2020 had me in tears.

Literal tears.

I mourned for nearly three weeks. It was devastating to me. Just two short weeks prior, we led to leave our church to find a new one. Now knowing I probably wouldn’t see anyone for weeks was a depressing hit to take. But then, God did something.  

Not out in the world, but deep in my soul.

You know in the Bible when something happens, and the next words are, “but then God?” That was the next few months. I just started sitting at the feet of Jesus and communing with the LORD in prayer.

It was refreshing and relationship building. You see…I was not alone. All I needed was my Savior.

Through scripture, mentors, friends, and how my life was shaking out, one thing became evident. I was most needed in my own home. Before March 2020, I served others. Everywhere. On this continent and others. In my church and local non-profits. In my best friend’s home and strangers’ homes. As for those in my own home, if I am frank, I rarely served them.

I rarely served those sitting at my kitchen table, eating dinner with me, those that slept under the same roof. God kept nudging me during this slow and quiet time that I needed to be present and see the needs of my family. Not just to meet their needs, but to work in my home as unto the Lord.  

So I did.

And when I did, miraculous things began to happen.

My house was clean, and I was finding joy in keeping it that way. Dinner was made, and it was enjoyable to plan, prep, and cook. I had more patience with my husband, children, and dog. Homeschooling became a favorite pastime, and my hobby business became a source of extra income. It felt as though all the things I tried to achieve for years began to happen through obedience where God had called me.

My calling in this season is to care for my family and home. However, I was not putting forth much effort towards fulfilling it in a God-honoring way. This was a realization I wasn’t expecting when the world came to a halt.

And though it took longer than 27 hours, 2020 was the year that I became a mom.