Baby On The Way
Our family has been beside ourselves with happiness ever since we found out we have a baby on the way! Our happiness was dashed for a few weeks, and I’m not going to lie, depression crept in when we heard what no one wants to hear. They suspected something may be wrong with our little bundle of joy. Sadness swept over us, and tears fell like rain. We prayed with all of our might, and then we waited for the testing to be done and for the results.
We were referred to a specialist in a big town, which was intimidating for us country bumpkins. However, we managed to find our way, not without a few wrong turns and feeling like a fish out of water in this town we knew nothing about. Frustrations were running high as we finally reached the doctor’s office for the ultrasound. Once inside, we waited for the tech to complete the extensive 2D ultrasound, and we did have a few moments of pure joy as we watched the baby on the screen flip and turn in Mommy’s tummy. We smiled, we laughed, and we were overjoyed in those moments.
Then more waiting …
The tech needed ten minutes to transcribe for the doctor, and then the doctor would come right in to meet with us. We sat there nervously trying to talk about anything to keep our minds occupied. Silently I prayed to myself between grasping at any conversation material we could think of.
Just then you could hear footsteps outside the door and a hand on the knob as it turned to reveal a short middle-aged African American woman smiling back at us. She greeted us, then went immediately to the ultrasound machine where she did a few more things of her own as we watched in silence wondering what was found.
A few minutes went by, but they felt like hours as we waited for her to speak. When she did begin speaking, she asked why we were referred to her. I explained that they saw something suspicious on the ultrasound in the doctor’s office, and they suspected the baby might have Down Syndrome. The doctor asked if we had blood testing done, and we explained that we were awaiting the results and that the doctor indicated it would take the 2D ultrasound AND the bloodwork to make the final determination. With that taken into consideration, the doctor paused for a moment, then said that everything looked good as far as she could tell, and she did not see any cause for concern. They offered further testing, which my niece declined. The doctor inserted her clause before letting us exit, “However, it would still take the bloodwork and the 2D ultrasound together to confirm.”
A wave of relief filled the room and washed over ALL of us as “Thank God” escaped my lips.
We almost danced out of the doctor’s office that day. Surely we were floating on a big, white, fluffy cloud as high up as you could see with your naked eye, right? Because it sure felt that way!
What WONDERFUL NEWS!!!
WE jumped ONE hurdle – like a horse trotting and breaking into a gallop right before he reaches the poles, and up, up, and away he goes launching himself right over and onto the other side …
Now to receive the bloodwork results …
And within a few days, those came in, and once again we were rejoicing because the bloodwork did NOT reveal the extra chromosome that would have indicated Down Syndrome.
Our hearts leaped for joy and our souls danced over the moon with this news. Our little baby was going to be just fine. Praises, praises, and more praises to God above!
We can finally move on to happier days ahead!!
Beloved
Beloved, by Tenth Avenue North, is the song that came to mind when I saw this daily devotional book. I hummed the tune and sang the words in my head as I picked up this little book and thumbed through it.
It’s a daily devotional for young women, which would be perfect encouragement for my 14-year-old daughter, I thought.
And then I turned right to this page …
I began to think of my daughter expressing how she stood up for one of her friends recently. When I picked her up, she hopped in, pulled on her seatbelt and began to tell me all about an injustice that had been served to her friend by a fellow classmate. With concern in her voice at first, it later turned to determination when she told me of how she stood up for her. She stepped out and used what power she possessed to right a wrong that had been done to her dear friend. She has such passion within her soul and wants people to be nice to each other and extend kindness. When that doesn’t happen, she is one of the first to stand up for them, and it’s a trait that others should have in this world!
My daughter isn’t always as bold as she was in that situation. Often times, she’s self-conscious and afraid to use her voice, feeling frightened to do so with adults. Yet, a lot of times those are the very ones that need to hear wisdom from the younger generation! I’m afraid she feels as if she doesn’t have a lot to add to the conversation being so young, but that is where she’s wrong as she is wise beyond her years!
As I held this book in my hands, I thought of the power it possesses to encourage young women like my daughter. What’s more, it lets them know they are loved by Almighty God, which is something we all need a reminder, especially on hard days.
My daughter had a daily devotional book I gave her some years ago, and it delighted my heart to find her sitting cross-legged on her bed reading it. Several years have passed, and she’s grown into a beautiful long legged gorgeous young woman with long flowing golden/auburn hair. While she obsesses about getting her eyebrows drawn on “just right” to show expression, it is my hope that this daily devotional will comfort her in times when boys pick at her about such silly things as those very eyebrows. Boys can be so mean and immature at times. So what if she’s the only girl in the class that draws on her eyebrows. Perhaps she’s the only one that has a sister with a cosmetology license, so maybe they wouldn’t know about perfecting the art of drawing on your eyebrows or what eyeshadow pallet is the latest craze. She does, though, so why pick at her for her love of makeup at such a young age? Let her BE …
Yes … let her be … ENCOURAGED by the words found in this daily devotional.
Let her be … LOVED … and shown through scripture that God above does love her completely and unconditional.
OH yes, let her be … CONFIDENT to speak up for others and know that her little voice matters! Let her know that it matters so much that she’s speaking out and speaking up for those who may be shy and unwilling to speak up for themselves.
Dear Lord, let her be … a shining example of your love to others in this world, as she uses this daily devotional as a tool in her life.
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this daily devotional for me to review on my blog!
Deep
A thousand words
will not leave
so deep an impression
as one deed.
~Henrik Ibsen
Words can sometimes comfort in a time of great difficulty, but they cannot heal the heartache or pain one feels. If you spring into action, though, and do something … that is where you leave your mark.
Often times, people say, “Let me know if I can help …” or “Let me know if you need anything.” They are well meaning words, but it falls short of actions that can be taken instead.
Bring a meal by, or take someone out for a nice treat to lift their spirits.
Days after losing a loved one when everyone has returned to their normal schedule, reassure the family by way of a card that you’re still thinking of them and praying for them.
Call or text – all that is needed is a brief reminder that they are on your mind.
Those are just a few things you can actually do to help … but nothing will take the pain away. Only God can heal a broken heart. You can stay close to them and extend your hand, and pray for God to do the rest.
