Life is fragile?

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Margaret

The wonder of birth makes me wonder: How does anyone ever get safely born? And how does a newborn baby make it to adulthood, much less old age? How does it happen without getting derailed along the way, more often than not? Life is fragile!

Or is it?

After watching Isaac’s birth, I’ve replayed the details in my mind again and again, reliving that natural marvel. And in the process, my old nemesis has dominated me, causing me to wander into flights of fantasy: “What if such-and-such had happened? Or that other thing? Or this one? Isaac wouldn’t have made it! So much could have gone wrong!” And yet here he is, on his 3^rd day with us, sleeping safely and serenely in his infant seat.

Isaac had no idea how his old Grandma Midgee was fretting over his safety during those last moments before birth or how anxious she was when it took a few seconds for his just-born body to become animated and cry.

An hour beforehand, I had asked the experienced midwives if they were getting nervous as Linnea’s grand finale’ was coming close. For that matter, how did they feel at that same moment with the hundreds of other births they’d facilitated? I said, “Do you ever get stressed over all the things that could go wrong?”

“We don’t get nervous,” Jess said. “We get an exhilarating adrenalin rush and fresh excitement to meet the new baby!”

And suddenly I felt ashamed of myself. Their attitude was lovely. Mine was dismal.

I don’t know what either of them thinks about God, but I believe he’s not only the Creator of life but the Sustainer of it as well. He has always been and always will be actively ruling over “chance” during every single childbirth. Whether Isaac lives or dies isn’t up to a pregnant woman, a group of midwives, an obstetrician, a parent, or a grandma’s fretting. It’s up to God.

And that goes for all of us. (When will I ever learn?)

Not that we should be careless or reckless with our lives, but the ultimate outcome is in the hands of the Almighty. And because that’s true, my nervousness at the moment of Isaac’s birth was completely ridiculous.

The bottom line is that life in God’s hands is anything but fragile. It’s more resilient than it seems, especially as we look at a new baby.

As for 3-day-old Isaac, if God says he’ll live to celebrate his 100^th birthday, indeed he will.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth… He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else… for in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:24-25,28)

One Fine Day

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Margaret

Here in Florida, we’re all getting to know our new little relative, Isaac. Linnea and Adam decided to give him a strong biblical name just like his brother Micah, but since he’s their 4^th child in 5 years, a little joyful laughter seemed appropriate too, and Isaac means laughter. He represents the opposite of sadness, and all of us are thrilled to be in that happy place with him today.

Of course there are strenuous days ahead, especially for a mommy managing so many young ones. I recall reading a book by the Duggar family (19 children) in which the mother wrote that her most difficult year was when her children were aged 5 and under. The oldest wasn’t old enough to give more than nominal help, and running errands, keeping house, and making sure everyone was fed and rested was the challenge of a lifetime.

Today, though, as we study little Isaac and watch his siblings begin to shape relationships with him, giggles and laughter punctuate his home. This is the day the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing with gladness in it. (Psalm 118:24) Today it’s all good: no sibling rivalry, no burdensome errands, and no pre-dinner meltdowns. Not today.

Instead Isaac is giving us a lesson in loving the here-and-now.

As I hold him and look into his brand new little face, I see how miraculously he’s been put together and sense how grand it is that we get to be part of his life story.

On this glad day, Birgitta texted me a wonderful quote from Charles Dickens: “It is not a slight thing when those so fresh from God love us.”

And as I’ve marveled over Isaac, that thought has been exactly what’s been rolling around in my mind but couldn’t assemble itself into a sentence. His relatives already love him dearly, but when a baby joins a family, something else is born too: the potential that he will love others one day too, which is, as Dickens wrote, not a slight thing. It’s something fresh from God.

Although I’m unsure of where a soul is before God begins the work of knitting a baby together within a womb, Dickens may have had it right.

Scripture tells us love initiates with God, so it makes sense that as he “handled” the minuscule beginnings of little Isaac, he steadily infused love into his young heart and soul all along the way. Isaac will be able to both give and receive love in unlimited ways, and in God’s manner of math, that will mean a steady increase in the love surrounding him.

It’ll be love, love, and more love, exactly as God intended. And so on this day, I’m thankful to have been lovingly tutored by someone who’s only 2 days old.

And yes indeed, it’s been one fine day.

“Let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God… Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

Time and Time Again

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Margaret

We’ve all heard the expression, “Timing is everything.” It may not really be everything, but it’s definitely important.

Back in October, I decided it was time to purchase a plane ticket from Michigan to Florida for the birth of Linnea and Adam’s 4^th baby, but the simple process of choosing a flight became complicated by not knowing when the little guy would appear. Only God knew, and he wasn’t telling.

Linnea’s first 3 babies each came about a week late, so as she and I went back and forth about which January day I should fly south, we targeted her due date plus one week. “Don’t come too soon,” she said. “You might have to fly home before the birth!”

As I clicked the “purchase now” button on my laptop, I felt like a gambler. Foolishly, I hadn’t thought to ask God to pick my flight date, despite his knowing exactly when baby would arrive. Instead I purchased by chance, scheduling my trip for January 16^th.

Because the birth was going to take place at home, opportunities for involvement would be far greater than if we were to meet the new baby in the more restricted atmosphere of a hospital. And after the thrill of nearly making “the catch” at Autumn’s birth two years ago, I didn’t want to miss out! (Wonder of Wonders)

The weeks passed, and Linnea’s routine pregnancy gave no inkling of whether she’d be early or late. But while God held onto his secret, I couldn’t help but second-guess my January plane ticket. So I wrote myself a Post-it note: “Change flight?”

Then one day I decided to do it, going online and discovering it would cost only $52 to make the change. I felt a nudge to push it up 4 days, to Sunday, January 12^th. But navigating the internet change-page was difficult, and after 3 tries, I gave up. My Post-it went in the trash, and I decided to stick with my January 16^thticket.

But the mental niggling didn’t stop. Eventually I called the airlines, and they facilitated the change which I “randomly” picked, the 12^th. And wouldn’t you know! Linnea’s labor kicked in on Monday morning.

Had I stuck with my original date, I’d have missed the birth… and the thrilling privilege of cutting the cord, which Linnea and Adam invited me to do.

I recount this story simply to say that God is always operating on our behalf, always looking out for our best interests. I wanted to participate in the birth of my 9^th grandchild, and in the end, he gave me my wish.

I didn’t recognize his presence in the midst of my mental volleying over dates, or in my Post-it note, or in the niggling that wouldn’t quit, or in the choice of flying on January 12^th. But my insensitivity didn’t deter him from gifting me with the perfect timing of my flight anyway.