1 Timothy 2:15 “Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” Berean Study Bible

I’ll be honest— I want to be offended by this verse. And especially by the verse before (14) it that says, “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.” I want to say, really? But— it’s right there, in black and white, in the written Word of God.

We all know Eve ate the fruit and then offered it to Adam. There have probably been millions of sermons from various viewpoints on this very subject, over the last 2000+ years. Regardless of Adam’s negligence, or being distracted, or even disinterested in what Eve was being coerced into— Eve picked the fruit off of the only tree God warned them to never eat from, and she ate it. And then she gave it to Adam, who willingly went along with his wife’s tantalizing coercion— after all, she hadn’t died…

Being Saved through childbirth is an idea I’ll admit I’ve struggled with. I mean— childbirth is hard! It hurts!

I experience natural births 3 times, and once I felt I cheated by getting an epidural. Honestly— I much preferred the natural births! I don’t think I can explain why, but it was a much more fulfilling experience each time. I felt like I accomplished something amazing, I persevered, I pushed through— literally! The epidural birth, I felt nothing— no bonding with my baby through a physical struggle— the baby was taken rather than emerging.

The real labor began after each birth, for me, though. My first birth, not only was my daughter born, but also my momhood. It was an ugly process at first— I had so much dying to myself to do— and wow did I do that badly! Sleep deprived with a newborn nursing— new experience for the both of us— she was so tiny, born a month earlier than expected, I fought against sleep to make sure she was getting nutrition and gaining weight.

The next two were easier only because I kind of knew what I was doing. I had so much more to learn! And our youngest was pretty easy with brothers and sister ready to help as much as they could.

My life was completely changed overnight. If you’ve ever had to die to yourself before, then you understand what momhood transforms into for many moms. We fight uphill battles for nutrition, clean houses and what we believe is in the best interest of our kids until they move out— and even then, the worry over most of those things doesn’t disappear. There is never an “out of sight, out of mind” moment when our babies fly from our nest.

Back to the being Saved part. So— my life before I had kids was pretty much my own. I mean, of course I tried to put God first. Then I got married, and had to learn to put my husband before myself. Then the kids each came before me. I felt lost for some of those earlier years, like I had completely disappeared into their lives, routines, and needs.

After pushing through those times, I began to recognize my kids actually gave my life new purpose, new focus. My kids saved me from selfishness, from living for myself. My newborn, premie-tiny daughter saved me while I was learning how to be her mommy, while I was learning how to set me aside and make sure she had everything she needed for her life. I failed so much, but I also had some pretty great successes.

Bearing, birthing and bearing my children has been a journey I would love to repeat— for the most part.

What a wonderful, fulfilling gift God gave to women! It’s unlike anything else! Continuing in faith, love and holiness with self-control can be such a challenge! It’s no wonder the devil attacks children! Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to help us power-through it all.