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 3rd 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 100th 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)
He is just beautiful!! Nuzzle that fresh-from-heaven skin for me!
My daughter is having her first child at home in a couple weeks. I have let my mind run to anxiety. This is such a timely post for me. I thank God that He had you write this to remind me that He is in charge.