My
first baby will be celebrating a birthday next week.
Before I had
her, I thought I knew most everything about babies. But, as we
mothers all know, the more children you have, the more you learn this
is not true, and you are served a big slice of humble pie.
She
was 16 hours of labor, a third degree tear, and colicky. This was not
my sweet angel baby I had imagined. She did not want to snuggle
against me, instead, as I held her in the cradle hold, she would arch
her back. I had to hold her down in my arms to get her to sleep.
I
remember being in the hospital, after the birth; tired, and sore, and
feeling not willing or able to care for this baby who lay beside me
in the hospital crib. I remember thinking: “I want her back in
there!”
Thankfully,
I had a husband who was willing and able to be hands-on with the care
of this baby. I don’t know if I could have done it without him those
first three months. I also learned more about the power of leaning on
Him for strength in this mothering thing. I made more room for Him in
my heart.
Today,
this same daughter is my sweet soul. She is quiet, sensitive, kind,
content, and helpful. She is a gem, a pearl of mine.
A
few months after I had gotten settled into this mothering thing, this
mothering thing of being a mother to a baby, and feeling more
comfortable, I was watching Jesus
of Nazareth
with my husband.
The
story of His birth became the most real to me as it had ever become.
I
watched Mary, the mother of the King,
ride on a donkey,
in labor.
Can
you imagine?
What?
No room in the inn? It’s insulting that no one would make room for
this heavily pregnant woman, traveling this long way with a tired
husband. And this baby
is the Son
of God!
He is
God! Shouldn’t God have perfect
circumstances? Shouldn’t Mary’s labor be easy,
shouldn’t Jesus have the best
birth accommodations? It seems ridiculous
that there was no room at the inn. Shouldn’t God have planned
better? (You know, like I did. Baby care classes, natural birth
classes, I was going to have the BEST baby and birth!)
But
He did. He planned very well. He showed up in the glory of humility.
And I learned it too, through the birth of my baby. I wouldn’t have
planned it any other way.
I
am reminded of these wise words as I reflect this season on His
birth:
“God enjoys showing up when circumstances are less than ideal.”
God
is there, even when there seems like no
room.
Even when circumstances are not what you planned. He humbles, and
that is the best way. It’s always good to be humbled. Especially in
parenting.
Today
was our Christmas pageant at our church. My darling daughter shone
like the angel she is and portrayed. She sang her heart out, she
glowed, she was brilliant.
“Joy
to the World! The Lord is come! Let Earth receive Her King! Let every
Heart prepare Him room! And Heaven and Nature sing! And Heaven and
Nature sing! And Heh-eh-eh-eh-eh-ven Na-Chure Sing!”
About Andrea Birch
