Today’s guest post is by Susana Fierro-Baig who writes the blog Spirit-led Birth and who is in the process of writing her own spiritual birth book called ” Spirit-Led Childbearing: Applying Principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Pregnancy and Motherhood”. I think it is so wonderful that there are more and more people bringing awareness to the spiritual dimensions of birth and have loved reading the sneak-peeks I’ve gotten into Susana’s book. Today she is sharing with us an excerpt from one of the chapters in her book!
Throughout my life, and especially as a new convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was taught to turn to Christ for strength and meaning during trials. However,it wasn’t until after my second birth that I began to realize that the Father was waiting for me to turn to Him and His Son for help during the greatest and most physically, spiritually,emotionally and mentally demanding experiences of my life: childbirth.
At that point I noticed that most of the books I had read about pregnancy, birth, nutrition, and parenting were missing an important element of information; while physical and emotional benefits were discussed, spirituality was not in most cases. There was a particular dearth of LDS based information. Therefore, I found myself making mental connections between the secular information I had read and the scriptures and principles of the gospel.
In doing so it became clear to me that the gospel truth that there, “must needs be… an opposition in all things” includes childbearing – a term which I use to encompass conceiving, growing, birthing, nursing, nurturing, teaching and raising children.
In the very beginning of time it was set forth that Satan would be an adversary to Eve and her family. The Lord said:
I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed…
The Atonement made by Christ “bruises” Satan’s head, but the consequential opposition after the Fall of Adam and Eve remains in this life. Due to her unique role of being the bearer of all living, which is a divine process, throughout history Satan has acted in
opposition to woman and particularly the “measure of her creation… motherhood.”
Understanding this principle transformed my approach to childbearing. I began to see that the greatest obstacles that I faced were actually rooted in spiritual warfare and the key to success in all areas of mothering, like the rest of life, was over coming fear, pride, and rebelliousness by aligning my will with the Father’s and learning to trust Him.
My births were greatly affected. I went from being scared, crying, and helpless, to having confidence, strength and direction. Breastfeeding and mothering became more meaningful as I realized that nurturing my children positively affected their minds, bodies, and their spirits. In short, mothering became a temporal and spiritual work.
The book of Revelations further illustrates the concept of Satan being in opposition to
womankind during childbearing and shows why vital information for childbearing women comes from the scriptures.
While the woman and child described in the following passage of scripture have been
interpreted to mean many things, including representing the church of God, it also can be understood in terms of all women and their experience in childbearing.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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As this passage illustrates, God has put everything here on earth that we need to be
victorious over Satan. We are protected in a multitude of ways. We are provided with real help and refuge that allows us to rise up and turn away from earthly turmoil and come into our own feminine, powerful, sacred, and love-filled place where we are nourished by our Heavenly Father.
As daughters of God we are assured that during our most meaningful, memorable,
vulnerable, yet powerful and challenging moments, God is aware of our needs and assists us. We can consider the two wings of a great eagle mentioned in the above verses as being the Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture. These are two forms of God’s assistance in the battle against Satan’s opposition.
I love that passage about the childbearing woman in the Book of Revelation. I actually used it in one of my essays in our book also. 🙂 I have definitely seen first-hand just how much the Dragon despises mothers and works to tear them down as they strive to birth and care for God’s children, especially the past couple of years. Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Susana.
I am excited that there are other women out there sharing the thoughts on spirituality and birth. It can really revolutionize the way we mother our children and can change the world!
Susana, I have enjoyed your blog and I’m excited for your book. There seems to be a Renaissance of information on birth and spirituality.
Thanks ladies! The support is very motivating to finish the work that has spanned 15 years and is nearing completion. I am in transition, and similar to a birthing woman, words of encouragement are very powerful.
~Susana
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Please note * Not only has the title of the book changed over the years since I began editing, the outline and chapters have also changed. In fact, what began as one book has evolved into three separate books. I am working to complete the first book of the three part series.
Thank you!