“I chose you before you formed in the womb; I set you apart for special work.” ~ Jerimiah 1:5
A brilliant late-summer day welcomed Olivia into this
world. Her smile was as sweet as a summer strawberry and filled her Mom, Jules,
with sunshine she never knew existed. The first time she held her sacred gift,
she burst with joy and gratitude, anxious to begin her new life as a mother.
From conception, Jule’s body instinctively shifted,
providing essential care to the fetus. Now her nausea, pain, and the plethora
of body changes seem almost a distant memory. From this moment, she
would do everything in her power to protect and care for her baby, no matter
the cost.
Although birth isn’t
technically considered a miracle, there was one birth in the history of the
world that was truly miraculous. Mary, a virgin, conceived Him through the
supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
We imagine Mary clasping her beloved infant and pondering,
as all new mothers do, what would become of Him. That tightly swaddled babe
must have nuzzled and cooed at His mother’s touch as she gazed into the angelic
face and thanked God for Him.
Think too, how Joseph
must have assumed his paternal role, loving that tiny tot as his own, taking on
the mantle of protector and provider. Jesus would go on to sacrifice His own
life for us, wanting nothing more than to have a relationship with us.
Still, it’s an
awe-inspiring process as new life comes into existence. The moment Jules and
her husband Derek held their newborn created a powerful, unbreakable bond,
forever changing their perspective on the world and their priorities.
In a world that can
sometimes seem uncertain and chaotic, the birth of a child is a source of hope:
hope in the blessings of life and the joys of a new family member. A hope that
she reaches her full potential and that her life is lived fully and prolifically.
And a hope for the future and how the next generation shapes it.
It compels us to think
more deeply about things that matter to us as individuals, as families, and as
communities.
A new life doesn't
open as a present, with pretty ribbons and comfortable assurances, but more as
an adventurous journey with a degree of fog and chill. It takes a brave heart
to embrace it, strong feet to travel it, and bold eyes to remain open to its
curves and fluctuations. Mothers often get a glimpse of that better than the
rest of us do.
Lord, bless this tiny bundle of pure joy. Guard
and shield her as she grows. Help this child of Yours know that she is deeply, wholly,
and forever loved – by You, and by all of us. Amen
