Exodus 2:1–10 | Galatians 6:9

Dear Beloved,

I can’t lie, right now life is really lifeing! But despite everything, I’m still happy, and I’m in a much better place than I was last year.

Let me explain.

Raising a child on your own is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that I’m able to do it. I’m grateful that God has carried me through this season and continues to help me provide for my daughter. Having my family’s love and support means everything to me.

But that doesn’t mean it gets easier.

My daughter is smart, funny, beautiful (like her mother, of course) and has such a pure heart. And you know what? I’ve done a good job raising her.

But sometimes I don’t give myself enough credit.

Whenever I make a mistake, I’m already blaming myself, crying and trying to figure out how I can become a better mother. Because that’s my prayer every single day.

When I pick my daughter up from nursery, her teachers are always telling me how kind she is, how helpful she is, how smart she is and how lovely her manners are.

And in those moments, I’m so proud of her that I sometimes forget something.

I’m the one raising her. I’m the one teaching her. I’m the one leading by example.

And through it all, God has truly held my hand financially, emotionally and physically.

I think part of the reason I’m so hard on myself is because I want so much for my daughter. I want her to know what love looks like and feels like. I want her to follow her dreams, no matter her age or the season she’s in. I want her to build her foundation on God and love herself in every way.

But sometimes I don’t realise that she’s already learning these things through the life we’re living together.

And that brings me to a mother in the Bible.

Let’s talk about Moses’ mother, Jochebed.

In Exodus 2, we learn that Pharaoh had ordered the death of Hebrew baby boys. Can you imagine being a mother and knowing that your child’s life was in danger simply because he was born?

Jochebed hid Moses for three months, protecting him for as long as she could. But when she could no longer hide him, she made a basket, placed her baby inside and laid it among the reeds by the river.

Can you imagine how difficult that decision must have been?

The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what she was feeling, but as a mother, I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty she might have experienced.

She had done everything she could to protect her son, but now she had to let go without knowing exactly what would happen next.

And look at what happened.

Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses, and through the events that followed, his own mother was given the opportunity to care for him again.

But here’s what really stood out to me.

Jochebed had to release the child she had spent months protecting.

And it made me think about motherhood.

Jochebed placed Moses in a basket, but how many times do we, as mothers, have to place our children into God’s hands?

Every time we worry about their future. Every time we question whether we’re doing enough. Every time we pray for their protection, their happiness and the people they’re becoming.

We want to give our children the world, but sometimes we forget that we cannot control the world around them.

And that’s the difficult part.

Learning that I can be her mother without trying to be her God.

I can raise her, teach her, protect her and pray for her. But ultimately, I have to trust God with the parts of her life that are beyond my control.

And I think that’s something I’m still learning.

I spend so much time worrying about whether I’m doing enough, whether I’m making the right decisions and whether I’m becoming the mother my daughter needs.

But recently, I’ve started to realise something.

The fruit is already growing.

My daughter prays for our family, for everyone at church and for the people she meets. She worships God. She loves people. She’s kind, gentle and thoughtful.

She tells me she’s proud of me and that she loves me about ten times a day. 😂🤍

And sometimes I forget that these little things are actually big things.

They’re the seeds of love, faith and kindness that have been planted in her life.

All this time, I’ve been praying, “Lord, help me to be an amazing mother,” without always recognising the beautiful things He’s already doing through me.

I’m not a perfect mother. I still make mistakes, and I still have so much to learn.

But I’m beginning to understand that I can be proud of the mother I am today while still praying to become a better one tomorrow.

So today, Beloved, I’m asking you for a little favour.

Pray for me.

Pray that God continues to give me wisdom, patience, strength and understanding as I raise my daughter.

And I want to encourage you too.

Maybe you’re a mother questioning whether you’re doing enough. Maybe you’re praying for your family, your future or something you’ve been waiting a long time to see change.

Whatever your situation, don’t become so focused on what hasn’t happened yet that you overlook what God is already doing.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Sometimes what looks small to us is something beautiful that God has been growing all along.

Because the fruit doesn’t appear overnight. It starts with a seed, and sometimes we’re so busy praying for the harvest that we forget to recognise what’s already growing.

Maybe being a good mother doesn’t mean having all the answers or being able to protect my daughter from everything life may bring.

Maybe it means doing my best with what God has entrusted to me, planting seeds of faith and love, and trusting Him with the things I cannot control.

Because I may not know everything her future holds, but I can continue teaching her about the God I trust with mine.

Until the next letter, Beloved.

— Alesia x