Guest writer alert! Today’s blog is written by my Dad. He’s sharing a powerful story of my birth and Gideon’s birth from his perspective.
Two Births
My wife and I were getting ready to have our first child — a baby girl. As her labor lengthened, excitement turned to concern, which turned into an unforeseen, shocking, sudden and somber realization — I could lose them both. She pushed and breathed and listened for directions and did everything asked of her. I could see her strength and resolve giving way. The doctor called for an emergency C-section. The hospital staff had obviously trained for this because their every move was purposeful and immediate. I went from being the birthing support person and expectant dad to a bystander. I glanced out the window of the room my wife and baby were wheeled into and, from my seat behind a birthing curtain, I could see the tops of three enormous crosses. A calm confidence washed over me. Everything would be OK — and it was. My wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, my life’s joy. My baby girl grew up and was getting ready to have her first child, an unexpected but not unloved baby boy. She said, “Dad, it’s time to go to the hospital.” She was going into the birthing experience weakened from dehydration. The hospital staff admitted her into a triage area. I went from being helpful to feeling helpless. The doula came, and I was grateful. My wife came after work and I knew my daughter’s support team was intact. Now the waiting. As minutes progressed into hours — as day turned into night turned into early morning, I decided to go home and get some sleep. I called my wife after a few restless hours, and things weren’t going so well. Lots of pain, lots of throw up, lots of discomfort, but not lots of progress. As my heart sank, my memory took me back to the delivery of my own first child. From my house, I looked out the back window at the sunrise and saw — another cross. The exact same feeling of comfort embraced me again. Not only would my daughter be fine, but God would have his hand on my grandson as well. He would provide where I could not. He would be present when I could not. He would bring comfort when I could not. God knew what was needed and would already be working on a solution before I even knew a problem was brewing and a solution was necessary.    |
Because of the loving devotion of the Lord we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23
– Jim