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.

And in this case, timing was everything.

“I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hand’.” (Psalm 31:14-15)

A Birth Day

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Margaret

It isn’t every day a grandma gets to help birth a baby! But today was one of those amazing days.

Even though my role was minor (conversing during labor, fanning an overheated mama, running for cool cloths), the grand finale’ was extraordinary for all six of us as we welcomed baby Isaac William into Linnea and Adam’s family. He joins Skylar, Micah, and Autumn, a happy pack of 4 children born in 5 years.

Birthing a baby is no small feat, and labor is well named. But Linnea was a trooper, enduring her unexpectedly long ordeal with stoicism and patience. As labors go, her 8 hour effort wasn’t especially long, but after 3 lightning fast labors, this one was a surprise.

As always, though, once the baby was in-arms, the duration of labor no longer mattered. As the book of Proverbs says, “the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (13:19), and nothing could diminish our joy. Later, as we sat pondering who “little” Isaac (9 pounds 1 ounce) would turn out to be, we knew that our wonderings had already been personally determined by God himself. And since that was true, we knew he was headed for a grand future.

“Father in heaven, may Isaac hear you calling his name while still a little child, and may he love you so steadfastly that he never turns away.”

“May you become blameless and pure, [a child] of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.Then you will shine…. like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Phil. 2:14-16)

Dance to the Music

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Margaret

They say music is the universal language, and from what I can tell, God has programmed it into all of us. We see it in little children, when they begin bobbing up and down to elevator music, tunes on store speakers, or notes floating in from the car pulled up next to us. Some begin wiggling to songs in their high-chairs in something similar to the chair-dancing at retirement villages. Surely our loving God is responsible for all this joyful response to music.

Emerald, at 14 months, loves music. She’s learned to dip and bob, swaying to whatever tunes she hears, expertly waving her arms high in the air. She’s also a pro at chair dancing.

This week she discovered a new way to make music, the piano, and as I opened the lid, she literally baby-gasped with delight. The two of us spent a long time at the keys, me plunking out Twinkle Twinkle while she worked on harmony. Eventually she spotted the foot pedals and learned to make them thump out a little rhythm, too, beneath her pushing. Now the piano holds intense fascination for her, and she’s always up for a jam session.

Music is keenly important to nearly all of my children, and they make sure to work it into their daily lives. Those who are parents of youngsters encourage them to sing and dance, some by way of formal classes.

All of them end each day by singing songs at bedtime. Hans, here with his 3 oldest, makes sure they know how much fun it is to make music.

I believe God puts a song in our hearts for all kinds of reasons. In Scripture we see people singing after winning battles, and making music as part of their worship services. Instruments are played at celebrations, and gratitude for God’s blessings is sung out loud. People also sang at weddings, while in prison, and when they wanted to express the greatness of God.

The Bible also gives us one more way to think about music. When we’re buried in sorrow, God says we can anticipate that there will be singing in our future.

Apparently there’s never a wrong time to sing, for 3 reasons: (1) to express delight; (2) to please God; (3) to demonstrate joy in the Lord in front of others. And when we’re asked why, he is the reason for our song.

If we don’t feel confident of our abilities, though, we should remember that God can initiate songs within us in a variety of ways: through descriptive poetry, lilting prose, quiet humming, even the jaunty snapping of fingers. And because he’s the Creator of music, he can also put songs where they’ve never been before.

As for those who still feel under-confident or self-conscious? They can always dance…. even if it’s just in a chair.