I’m 36 weeks along now with my ninth child. The time has flown by. I really do think that each pregnancy goes by a bit faster since our already busy home consumes much of my thoughts.

But oh, how our sweet new little one has been making his presence known lately! He has grown so much, and my body definitely feels it. At 39, this pregnancy definitely feels differently than my earlier ones.

And yet, I feel such a deep sense of gratitude. Such a deep sense of awe.

I hardly feel worthy, ladies. Bringing up and birthing babies is a miraculous event.

For most women, this is what we were called to do. We have been called to partner with God to bring His image into the world.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3

The fruit of the womb is His reward. But do we really believe that?

Sometimes I haven’t. Sometimes I’ve taken the gift of my fertility forgranted.

Sometimes I’ve been more focused on things like our finances than on my family. Worldly things aim to choke out the most important things if we let them.

The solution is keeping our eyes on the Father and our Messiah.

The solution is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices while keeping ourselves unstained by the world.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

The world can stain us, ladies. It is filled with lies from the deceiver which tell us that we already have “enough” children, and providing them with an abundance of worldly goods is more important than continuing to bring up babies for the glory of God.

But when we take our eyes off of the world and instead, offer our bodies as living sacrifices, the Lord is glorified.

Having children isn’t exactly what I would call a “sacrifice.” It is a privilege. But as mothers, we do sometimes “sacrifice” our time and energy for the sake of our children. Our bodies look differently after having children. But this feeling of burden can and should be lifted when we realize we are walking in our calling and this is what we were created to do.

Knowing this, I am humbled, excited, (and a little nervous!) about meeting our newest little one.

I’m honored that I have been chosen to carry this child 20 years after carrying my first born.

A new baby brings such hope to a dark world.