Understanding Sarah

Understanding Sarah: Welcoming our Seventh Child – “On the Day that I Give Birth let Your Glory Come to Earth”

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment
Anna holds her baby sister for the first time

Recently, I discovered a treasure trove of great content for the blog in a journal I filled when Anna was 7-8 and Laura was on the way, and Susie was still a baby. I wrote up six interesting pages where I was trying to express who I am and what motivates me. This kind of journaling can be very therapeutic for us as moms. I thought it might bless others to be able to share in my thoughts from these early years…the growing list of posts can be found here.

Here I am

Waiting for the warmth of spring

Colors soft yellow and green

bright skies and warm dark earth.

Plant me-I’ll take root

Water me-I’ll bear fruit

Shine on me-I’ll shine for you

Speak to me-I’ll sing to you.

I want to be your delight

I want to be like a baby in your arms

I want to see you smile at my song

I just long to draw closer to you.

I feel a baby move inside of me

I wonder who this little one will be

On the day that I give birth

May your glory come to earth

As the beauty of your power is displayed

In the face of a child you have made.

When the flowers of spring appear

I will wait to whisper in your ear

And praise you for the greatness of your plan

I will praise and worship you and pray

For your glory to fill our house that day.

Laura’s Peaceful Home Birth

Laura’s home birth was so precious. She was actually born at a moment when no one was paying attention except Anna who was in the birth pool with me. Here are some sweet photos and video from the hour Laura was born and a few pictures from her first week of life.

Laura and her bird

Understanding Sarah: Call Me to the Quiet Place

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Recently, I discovered a treasure trove of great content for the blog in a journal I filled when Anna was 7-8 and Laura was on the way, and Susie was still a baby. I wrote up six interesting pages where I was trying to express who I am and what motivates me. This kind of journaling can be very therapeutic for us as moms. I thought it might bless others to be able to share in my thoughts from these early years…

Ember and her friend Amanda using the “Laura and Leah” journal

We begin with a poem…because writing poetry is therapeutic for me.

Call me to the quiet place

Though all the world rages

Call me into your tender embrace

Draw me deep into your pages.

Let me “let go” of all the treasure

The trials, triumphs, pain…

Let me forsake my glory

Let me not see my own fame.

Let me disappear into your radiant light

Let me know the stillness of your sight

Let me be free from all the earthly care

Let me take a breath of heaven’s air.

I come with no beauty of my own

I come empty and I come alone

With trembling hands and trembling heart I bow

To the glory of your presence, I come now.

Undeserving, wicked, weak and poor

Broken, humbled, knocking at your door,

Lost in your eternal touch of grace

I have found such love in my Father’s face.

Open wide your gate and draw me in

Make me pure, purge me from my sin

Let me see the cross of Christ again

Let your holy work on me bring victory to win.

Triumph over sin and shame and grief

Blow away all vanity in me

Purge the dark and destitute places in my soul

Bring me through the fire until you see gold.

Mighty works-these my hands can’t bring

Holiness-Is it just a song I sing?

Beauty-Is it only surface deep?

Oh, let your holy will be born in me.

A living sacrifice I now become

Though I am not righteous, holy one

See me through the shed blood of your song

Through life and death, my victory is won.

Holiness and purity are mine

With your radiant beauty I now shine

I am light in the shadow of the cross

I find life in the shadow of the cross.

(December 18, 2007)