A birth day
The plan had been to move into our new home after the birth of our first child but alas the baby was late and our lease was up. As I stood at the sink that first evening, I felt water at my feet. Did my water break? Looking down I realized my pants were dry. The dishwasher leaked. I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry. Within a few days I was admitted to the hospital but even medical intervention by induction did not bring fore a baby. After a full day in hospital with no pain or movement, my doctors said “baby isn’t ready. Go home and wait.” My bag and my mind had been ready to meet this little one for weeks. I was sure I was going to be eternally pregnant. But there was scripture verse I was holding onto. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16 I had the assurance this baby would be born on the day God ordained. The good news was not a day later. Bad news was not a day sooner. So on the day ordained for her to be born – May 31, 1984 Emily Ann arrived and today she is 35 years old. She was worth the wait.
“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139
In the 35 years since the Lord gave me that verse His timing has been perfect not always easy but perfect. I encourage you to trust that He is in control. His ways are worth the wait.
Some times it is hard to trust God’s timing. I know it if true for me. But as you said, His timing is always perfect.
Waiting for a birth is the hardest. The excitement, the wonder, the anticipation of seeing that baby face to face can be overwhelming. But God knows the hour, the minute that He will breathe life into that bundle of joy. Emily’s birth and life has been in God’s hands. What a great thought!