I’m back! Hello!
It has been quite the whirlwind few months of maternity leave for me; in some ways I can’t believe a full six months have passed, and in others I can’t believe it has only been six months! Anna is just the joy of my life, and it has been such a blessing for me to have this time with her, watching her grow and learn every day.
I feel like I am coming back a different person. Motherhood has affected me in such a profound way, that I think my ministry will be affected – perhaps enhanced – too.
Anna makes me that much more passionate about ministry alongside children, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Anna, being a cross-cultural baby herself, pushes me to think more deeply about what it means for our church to seek to be not just multicultural (many cultures merely existing side by side) but cross-cultural – sharing and learning from one another, and building up the Body of Christ in that way.
Anna teaches me to rediscover the beauty and wonder of small things; through her eyes, I find myself marvelling at the intricacies of nature and the profound beauty of all creation -the Lord God made them all.
Anna teaches me that, as organised and ordered as I like to be, sometimes I’ve just got to go with the flow; God’s timing is so often not our timing, and to have faith is to rest in the knowledge that God makes all things good in God’s time.
Anna teaches me perspective; sometimes I can get too caught up in negativity, gossip and whingeing – but the joy of a child reminds me that there are far more important things in life than these things.
Anna teaches me to give thanks every day for the blessings we have that so many others do not – a stable and safe home, a steady income, a loving and generous extended “village” of family and friends, good health, happiness and hope.
Perhaps more than anything, Anna reminds me of this profound truth: knowing how deeply I love my child, how much more does our God love each of us! How deep the Father’s love for us; how vast beyond all measure.
I look forward to reconnecting with you all as I settle back into work. I ask though for grace and understanding, as I juggle the needs of this community with the needs of my family. And I thank those of you who took time to visit or provide practical support to us in these last months.