First bath. First smile. First laugh.
As a new mom, I celebrate all my baby boy’s firsts. First Christmas? Time for a trip to Hobby Lobby to get him a stocking!
But the truth is, firsts can be hard too. First boo-boo. First break-up. First accident.
The challenge with firsts is that depending on our circumstances, we view them with either excitement or angst. But as with anything in life, we get to choose how we respond.
That’s the lesson my character Kaley learns in Take My Hand. As a trauma therapist working on her master’s thesis, she has all the head knowledge she needs to counsel others about their problems. But when it comes to the danger that stalks her to Beech Mountain, North Carolina and the ex-boyfriend who wants a second chance, she is as vulnerable and unprepared as a middle school student on her first day of class.
How do we respond to “firsts” and all the other moments in between? As always, Scripture has something to teach us. It’s not what we might expect.
Celebrate Service over Self
There’s a first for everything, and we tend to make those occasions about ourselves—losing sight of the big picture.
I love the passage in Mark 9 where Jesus used a little child to teach His disciples a lesson that’s relevant for us too. They had been arguing about who would be the greatest, and in response, Jesus told them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35b NKJV). And then, He took a little child into His arms and told them that when they receive a little child in His name, they ultimately receive God the Father (Mark 9:37).
Wow! The disciples were rugged fishermen, and more than likely, they viewed taking care of babies as women’s work. Jesus wasn’t asking them to babysit, but He was making the point that being a servant in Jesus’ name is far more valuable than arguing over titles.
For new moms like me, I love that Jesus cherished children. Whether I’m celebrating my son’s first time rolling over or cringing at his first vaccine visit, I can view all his firsts as part of my service of motherhood.
How can you serve the people in your path today? Whatever first thing you can do, know that you can make an eternal impact.
Cherish Moments over Busyness
Some days, I admit that I wish for more time or more … you fill in the blank. My first romantic suspense novel with Mountain Brook Ink releases this month (just four months after the birth of our son), and sometimes, I get caught up in the blur of launch tasks that I miss out on the wonder of this opportunity. Getting to share my story with readers is a privilege and answered prayer.
It’s easy to miss out on moments when we have tunnel vision about our to-do lists. Such was the case with a woman named Martha in Luke 10. She found out Jesus was in town and offered to host Him. However, instead of focusing on what she could learn from Jesus, she threw her energy into what she could do for Him—and got bent out of shape when her sister Mary didn’t volunteer to help. In fact, Mary was just sitting there, listening to Him.
Jesus’ reply to Martha is one I think He speaks to you and me as well. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41b-42 NKJV).
In all our moments, the main thing is to look to Jesus, to sit at His feet, and to place our trust in Him. Let’s savor the first opportunity we have to do so, knowing He is the One truly in control of all circumstances.
Are you facing a first this holiday season or in the coming year? I encourage you to focus on the wonder of God’s love and leave the worrisome details to Him.
Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for teens and adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. She also teaches English online and is an inspirational speaker for schools, churches, and podcasts. Her young adult dystopian novels, The Revisionary and The Reactionary, both won the Selah for speculative fiction, and her first romantic suspense novel with Mountain Brook Ink releases this December. Kristen and her husband live in Florida and welcomed their baby boy in August. Connect with her at KristenHogrefeParnell.com.
Don’t find us. We’ll find you.
Trauma therapist Kaley Colbert needs a vacation from her job, and a ski trip with her church singles’ group seems like the perfect way to unplug. But while in the mountains, she learns that her last client was murdered hours after their meeting, and she wonders if the notes she’s receiving from a possible stalker hold a more sinister warning.
On the trip, ex-boyfriend and entrepreneur Reef Mitchell wants to give their relationship another chance, but Kaley questions if his past and priorities could ever mesh with her life. When her client’s underworld connections catch up with her, she has no choice but trust Reef to help her stay alive, solve her client’s mystery, and bring the killers to justice.
