Week

4 Meredith’s Story

When Meredith found out she was pregnant she felt numb and overwhelmed. She was struggling with her mental health, she and her partner were not doing well, and she had just moved back into her parent’s house. She didn’t want to think about being pregnant, it didn’t feel real. She bravely reached out to Envisage.

“It was so nice to have someone to talk to and support me”

When Meredith had to stop working at her physically demanding job, she felt really bad about herself; “I’m weak, I can’t do my job, how am I supposed to financially support a baby?” Talking with her support worker helped her see that she was making a healthy, wise choice for herself and her baby.

Meredith said the childbirth classes and practical items that Envisage provided, such as clothing and diapers, helped her feel more prepared and excited for the arrival of her baby.

After Meredith’s baby arrived, she participated in “Strengthening Families Program” (SFP). She learned about “Child’s Game” where a parent spends 15 minutes per day with their child, focusing solely on the child. In a culture distracted by cell-phone scrolling, this intentional time is important. Meredith said she felt more connected and bonded with her baby and her baby was happier. She explains …

“Actually spending the time to get to know her made a huge difference; it’s not just “this is my baby”, it’s like, “this is my baby whom I love, and who I know, and who I can take care of, because I spent the time to learn about her”, so that was really helpful … I think it helps me cue into what she wants and what she needs”.

It is a joy to see Meredith interact with her baby, confidently responding to her needs and enjoying their time together!

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.

Psalm 68:5&6a NIV

Step into Their Story

One goal of Envisage’s new parenting group “Strengthening Families Program”, is to increase healthy parent/child attachment through positive time spent together with an activity called “child’s game”; parents spend 15 minutes each day playing with their child (children choose the activity and parents notice and compliment specific positive things their children do, without correction). Families: Play “child’s game” together. Did you enjoy this time? If you are not currently parenting: Think about some of the strengths, values and traditions you learned in your family of origin.

Please Pray

Day 1: For teens, women and men who are overwhelmed as they face unexpected pregnancies, that God would use the Envisage team to give them hope.

Day 2: For clients who are taking our childbirth education classes - that the classes would prepare and equip them for the arrival of their babies.

Day 3: That the families we are supporting would be kept healthy - especially for those who will be having babies soon or with newborns.

Day 4: For pregnant clients who are anxious about the birth of their babiesthat God would give them peace and also safe, uncomplicated deliveries.

Day 5: For new parents supported by Envisage - that God would give them energy, rest and healthy bodies and minds.

Day 6: For families participating in our SFP group, that they would have healthy attachment with their babies, and also learn skills they need for parenting.

Day 7: That God would fill our Envisage team with wisdom, health and unity so that we can be unhindered in caring well for those we serve.

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 7 FILL

As you pray for each day’s request, draw smiley faces in the section of the bottle for that day. At the end of the week, the bottle will be full!

Day 2

Day 1