Birthing Something New | Black Girls with Purpose | Maternity Photos

photo credit: Shaquille Dunbar, todphotography.com

If May marked graduations, commencements and the closing of one chapter in preparation for the next. Then June is that first page of a new book that you’ve been anxious to crack open. It’s fresh with possibilities of what the future holds and you can barely contain your excitement (okay, maybe I’m the only one who gets that feeling.)

At the time of this blog post’s publication, I’m only two weeks away from our son Jaden’s due date and the amount of growth I’ve experienced both physically and spiritually over the past 10 months is far more than I could have anticipated. That’s why I know that his arrival will represent so much more than the birth of a baby. It represents the birth of an entirely new season.

The month of April marked the beginning stages of this new season. In it, I quit one job, put in my two weeks notice for another and painfully missed my last day due to a health scare. As I took inventory of all that was changing, one thing was clear, there would be no turning back. God was burning bridges between who I was and who it was He was calling me to be.

In addition to letting go of jobs I also let go of some of my commitments. I promised both God and myself that I wouldn’t take anything new on until the fall. Instead, I shifted my focus to closing out any open tabs. I was able to do things like wash Jaden’s clothes and sort through his baby shower gifts. All these things had to happen in preparation for our family’s new addition.

What new thing are you about to birth today? Whatever it is, you can be sure there are some basic steps you must take to adequately prepare for what’s coming your way.

 

Step 1: Do your homework.

Birth of something new.

photo credit: Shaquille Dunbar, todphotography.com

In April, G and I took a Lamaze class to prepare for labor and delivery. I had no idea that the Lamaze class focused on natural birthing techniques so the first class was kind of a shell shock for me. Nevertheless, with each passing week I realized how much I loved what I was learning and by the end of our four weeks I felt excited and ready for the whole birthing process. I made it a habit of reviewing our class materials regularly just so I didn’t forget everything.

Despite the fact that school is out, if you have new things you want to accomplish this summer you’re going to have to work for them. Research the best job placements for your field. Check out different shadowing opportunities in your city. Look up dance clinics or auditions. Take whatever necessary steps to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be next.

Step 2: Make room.

Making room to birth something new. I probably went through my closet four to five times over the past few months to ensure I had the room we needed for Jaden and all his things!

For you, this step may look like making room in your schedule. If you’ve decided to have an internship this summer you may spend less time relaxing. But fret not, this temporary no is setting you up to achieve greater goals.

 

Step 3: Get excited!  

Get excited about the birth of something new.

photo credit: Shaquille Dunbar, todphotography.com

This step may seem silly but I’ve found in our success based culture we’re so quick to move from one thing to the next. Sometimes we forget to pause, sit back and celebrate our varying seasons.

After quitting my jobs, my new schedule yielded lots of reflection and I realized this would be the first time since I was 15 that I would not be working. The realization excited me as I began to understand that this brought about countless opportunities. I also loved knowing that “J” will have had my full attention for three consecutive months. This meant I’d be around for the small wins like him sitting up on his own or his first few mumbles of gibberish. None of this was to be taken for granted as many jobs give as little as six weeks of maternity leave. Here I was preparing to take 12! What a blessing!

Taking these three steps to prepare for whatever new season you’re about to enter in will truly help you get the most out of it. My hope is that you’ll be encouraged and excited for what’s ahead and that when all is said and done, your life will be better for it.

What new thing are you preparing to birth in this season? Be sure to share it with us in the comments below!

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