Foundations

On Sunday, we celebrated one year of life for Abrielle and Sofy.

Abrielle's birthday was on November 5th, and Sofy's is on December 17th. Ruth is moving soon, and we wanted a chance to celebrate together. So we did! What's better than celebrating one baby? Celebrating two, of course!

Sofia: then and now

Abrielle: then and now

We gathered for a little birthday party.

We ate snacks. Pineapple, watermelon, hard boiled eggs, popcorn, groundnuts, samosas, and lemonade.

We sang and enjoyed a gorgeous cake (made by my teammate, Emily, who owned a cake business back home).

We opened presents.

We delighted in friendship and laughter.

We celebrated the lives of these two darling girls and thanked God for his goodness and protection over them.

But really I want to celebrate Sarah and Ruth. This is their first anniversary of becoming mothers, and that's no small accomplishment! It's not something to be overlooked in light of really (really) cute babies.

Over the past year, I've had the privilege and joy of watching Ruth and Sarah embrace motherhood. It hasn't been easy, but they have been faithful.
There have been late nights and early mornings.
Countless loads of laundry washed by hand.
Trips to the medical clinic and hospital, routine and unexpected.
They've learned about nutritious foods and offering healthy choices that support baby's development.
They've been asked questions by neighbors and relatives, and they're able to explain why they're doing some things differently than culture expects.
They are empowered to advocate for their daughters and make informed choices for them.

More importantly, Ruth and Sarah have been laying down a strong foundation for Abrielle and Sofy.
I've seen the hard work and love they've poured into their daughters knowing that these years matter.

We've talked a lot about the importance of early childhood and how these are the days, months, and years to be training children in righteousness. Discipleship of children doesn't start after their first birthday. It doesn't start when they begin school or when they know how to argue with you. It's starts at the beginning of life.

Just like a strong foundation is necessary for the structural integrity of a house, the early years of child development are a critical time of preparation. Once the house is built, we don't see the foundation anymore, but we know that it's there holding everything together. Similarly, the tasks of early development often go unnoticed by others. Every developmental milestone reached, every benchmark attained points back to a loving caregiver who nurtures and encourages.

Those who are unable to see the importance of the foundation built in early years are eager to rush on to more visible, outward skills. But a house isn't simply set down on top of a foundation. Rather, the house grows up out of it. When intentionality and diligence are poured into the early years of childhood, a deep, solid foundation is built, and a child is given roots that help her stand firm in later years.

Ruth and Sarah have been faithful in gentle training, patient repetition, age-appropriate explanations, and viewing their daughters' hearts in light of God's Word. These things, this teaching and showing children what it looks like to love God and glorify Him with our lives, are incredibly difficult yet eternally important. Yes, let's celebrate these little girls that we've been gifted! Let's also celebrate their moms who daily pour out themselves for their daughters and point them to Jesus.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

 Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, 

when you lie down and when you get up. 

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Write them on the doorframes of your houses 

and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9