Uncovering the lies behind the new nursing norm....

This topic will likely surface some emotion.... it's sensitive. 

But sensitive topics are real, and sometimes really need attention.

I recently listened to several young women discussing the increasingly popular trend of nursing uncovered in public....  Great conversations were had by this group of young moms and moms-to-be.  There were those who followed Jesus, those who did not, those who nursed uncovered, those who didn't..... all equally torn and passionate about this sensitive topic.  Then it was finally said:  " I wonder what Jesus would think if He were here, and what He'd want us all to do?" 

I offered my perspective as did other experienced nursing mothers. 

Eyes were opened, scales removed, lies left behind.  A beautiful thing.

I hope that happens today.

Whether you follow Jesus or not, I believe there is at least one gem to find the in this post for you.  I hope when you find the nugget that was intended just for you, that you would take hold of it... even if it's a little sharp and stings at first. 

I believe we can follow Jesus in ALL areas of life.... even when feeding our infants.  Yes, even then.  Although Jesus never fed an infant, I believe his invitation to follow Him still applies to us then.  After all, Jesus never said:  "Come follow me... exception given to hormone imbalanced nursing mothers".

Yet, somehow many of us have bought that lie... at least once. 
Others of us are camping out there. 

Nursing uncovered in public. It is the increasingly new trend of nursing children without any covering in public places.  Often times, it is preceded by posting success photos on social networks for the whole world to see.

Recently while out to eat, two nursing mother friends were nursing uncovered in the booth next to me.... their conversation early in the meal was all about a preteen daughter posting inappropriate pictures of herself online, and the mother was completely overwhelmed about how it came to be and what she could do about it.  Following their meal and conversation, the moms debated about which nip (nursing in public) pictures to post of themselves, and on which forums/groups.

Hmmm... I wonder where that preteen daughter has learned it.....

Beneficial to the child, harmless, no consequences?   I bet you'll think differently when little Emmy's body begins to change or when little Jonny's grows up and his big boy friends find photos of mommy and him online and they go viral...

Viral in his entire teenage world anyway.

Side note, so you think you've been posting them only in private and closed groups.... try again--score a few likes from other mutual friends, and BAM..... larger-than-life you now appear on my wall too, in full postpartum glory.

I understand we have the "right" to do this as a women living in America today.  I see exactly how these trends come to be.  We all realize this.  To be honest, in our ever increasingly unhealthy hyper sexualized world,  I expect a constant increase in self centered behavior based on self-liberation.... it is the times in which we live. 

However, some of these terrible freedoms have also come at a terrible cost.  And the cost has been great....   Just look around, I bet your Facebook newsfeed has several examples of how "good" things were when we "used to"_________ .  Insert whatever common sense behavior you'd like, there is something WHOLE  and right and good about it.  We've now somehow regressed to taking third world pictures of half dressed Amazonian women in war paint holding machetes and use them as the American nursing in public meme models... pride.. power...self..... liberty.

Yet, in the quest of liberty... I see slaves.

Slaves to rebellion.... it comes at a cost too.  The need to justify behavior.  The need to vomit emotionally to everyone in hopes that one person defends their self seeking cause.  A constant itch that needs scratched.  Anger towards others.  Restlessness.

.....all in the name of what is natural... what is best for the child.... choice.... freedom.

Freedom, terrible freedom...... producing self induced slaves.

Freedom doesn't feel like that, friend.

It doesn't wear the face of anger or justification.

It feels right.... for everyone.

That said, I wish to offer a huge challenge to present and future nursing moms who have decided to follow Jesus a little deeper.  Those who have decided to give Him their all, who are ready to release to Him even the smallest area that they are doing life for themselves instead of for Him.

Topics like these are so sensitive. 

I believe largely it's because it is something God designed to be sacred and intimate, and we are so far from that.  Because we've bought the lie the enemy has fed us..... It makes perfect sense to me.  Why not tempt the mother who lays everything else down for the needs of her family with doing something to liberate herself?  Why not place blinders on to see only the moment of infant child and not growing child?  Why not wave the illusion of control during the season of learning to surrendering control a little deeper?  Self.  Anger.  Justification.  It's all vomit from the same enemy.  He's vomiting lies, and we're devouring them as a nation.... and using a third world machete woman as our mascot.

My I gently encourage you to ponder these thoughts:

While nursing uncovered, am I serving myself and my desires or serving those around me? 
Is my desire to nurse uncovered mostly selfish or selfless? 
Today, how can I die to self more so that He can be best honored in and through me? 
Am I following Jesus, or the crowd on this one?
Could my own rights and freedom have me held captive as a slave?


I have a dear friend who is nursing a child with special needs.  He does not tolerate his body being covered.... I respect this friend for searching and trying to find certain fabrics that he would tolerate so she could make small custom privacy cloths to cover herself.  In addition, she wore certain underclothing that allowed her to remain covered sans blankets.  If there is anyone I have ever known who could have justified exposing herself for the benefit of her baby, it was her.... but she chose to follow Jesus and serve those around her instead.  It is beautiful... friend, I respect you for clothing yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

While feeding her baby in public and keeping herself covered, she was following Jesus.  She was silently serving the sexually unhealthy around her by minimizing unhealthy urges or hurts, she was helping the post abortive, cancer surviving, or grieving women around her to be more comfortable in her own silent pain.  She was helping present and future marriages all around her community by not impressing visual images of taken women into the minds of men that cannot ever erase them, and she was showing the teenagers in the room that there is something sacred and intimate about not only the bond between husband and wife, but mother and infant child as well.  She was loving her neighbor more than herself, and taking the time to consider the interests of those around her ahead of her own. 

She was following Jesus.

Not because she was following the rules perfectly.

Not because she was better than anyone else in the room.

But because she followed Jesus into that room.

Because she cared about the condition of the hearts of those around her, just as Jesus does.

And because she knew His ways are better than her own.... rich in modesty and grace.

We live in a world that embraces the list of reasons and rights that are continually thrown in front of us justifying why we should live for ourselves.  The truth is, women, we do not know what is like to be a teenage boy with a testosterone super highway being built within us.... or what it means to fight the battlefield within the visual mind of men.  We may not be sexually unhealthy, post abortive, or live with the real scars of female cancer, or be in the midst or wake of the loss of a child.  But friends, that doesn't mean we can ignore that they make up a VERY large percent of our public community.  I believe following Jesus means we deny ourselves and follow Jesus instead of the newest self righteous trend.

Following Jesus isn't just about bringing Him glory, but it's also for our own good.

He knows the hearts of all.

He understands the pain of all.

He sees the scars of all... hidden or visible.

And He laid is life down for every last one of us.

When we follow Jesus, he's asking us to do this too.... to lay our self down for them as well.

Jesus came to teach us it is about our heart condition.... not to give us a list of rules.  A list of should's and should not's is not what we need, nor my goal with this.

My goal is to gently encourage you to examine your own heart when given the moment to serve self or others and weigh out a few thoughts...."Am I being selfless or selfish.... am I serving and loving my neighbors.... am I following Jesus or the crowd....or am I feeding the never, ever satisfied pit of pride, power, and self."  .....am I buying a lie, that is affecting others around me?

Only you know.



I think it's best you talk to God on your own this time.

This time, I'll leave you with the same question of my new friend..... 
" I wonder what Jesus would think if He were here, and what He'd want us all to do."

Talk it over with Him.