How to Spiritually Prepare for Birth
This little baby growing inside me has taught me so much in seven short months. However, one thing that I’ve been surprised by is how much has to be done before the littlest Langr makes an appearance. Prenatal appointments, scheduling hospital tours, making decisions about labor plans, finalizing a baby registry, and getting the nursery ready are just a few of the things that have been on Joseph and I’s to-do list lately.
It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the preparation for a little baby that I forget to take time to spiritually prepare for this baby’s arrival. That’s why I loved getting a copy of Eline Landon’s brand new book, Nine Months with God and Your Baby: Spiritual Preparation for Birth.
The book is the perfect size to carry along with you to Eucharistic Adoration or to set beside your bed for reflection before the end of the night. Inside, Eline provides meditations, Scripture passages, and prayers for the entire pregnancy journey: from desiring a little baby to welcoming a baby into your home after birth.
“The spiritual welcoming of the child, which prepares us for the sacred presence of a new being in us, seems to be lacking. The word ‘pregnancy’ would make us believe that what is going on in us is simply getting fat! By welcoming life in us, we participate in God’s work of creation,” she writes in the introduction.
Throughout the entire book, Eline emphasizes the beauty of spiritually preparing as a mother. She reminds moms about the importance of being gentle and merciful with the process of motherhood.
“May we calmly welcome these babies; let us stop being agitated after the turbulence of childbirth, contemplate our new born children, and take the time to welcome them. Let us stay calm, and may this peace enlighten us about the surrender of our lives into the Lord’s hands.”
Each month, you’ll be able to ask the Lord to prepare you for welcoming this new little life. I’m looking forward to the next few months of pregnancy with this book as a meditation.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Nine Months with God and Your Baby if you’re expecting a little, or if you know anyone who is on that journey! This book makes a perfect baby shower gift!