The Gift of Pregnancy

Have you ever been to a shower where you prayed over the woman of honor? I think it is the coolest idea. My first experience with that was my own baby shower for Caleb. Our pastor's wife shared some biblical thoughts on motherhood and then she prayed for Caleb, my mom prayed for me and a lady who had mentored Ross and me in the youth group prayed for Ross. There wasn't a dry eye in the room and my heart was so very encouraged.

A few months later, it was our pastor's wife's turn to be prayed over : ) She was expecting her 3rd boy (that's requires prayer in and of itself!) and several ladies from the church gathered together to shower her with love, gifts and prayer. I had been asked to praise God for this pregnancy. I had never really thought about that before, but I found such joy in thanking God for the gift of pregnancy.

At 30 weeks pregnant myself, I've been thinking about that more and more lately. Isn't God good to give us the gift of pregnancy?

Just think. He could deliver babies to our arms in so many ways (the stork comes to my mind...) but instead, He asks for our participation for 9 months. He causes our children to grow inside us- completely dependent on us for nourishment and protection. Before we even see or hear our babies, we are deeply, emotionally connected to them.

That's a gift.

And then there's the process of actually bringing them into the world (I'm sure I'll blog more about this as our big day approaches!) He could just bring them to us, but instead He asks for our participation and for our trust.

While pregnancy can start to get a little uncomfortable, and life with a baby belly can be hormonally charged and physically exhausting, God uses ALL of it to connect us to these little people- before anyone else gets to meet them.

Isn't that the coolest thing? Yes, Ross has felt the baby kick and heard her little heartbeat, but he doesn't know her like I do. You can't possibly know her like I do. For she is growing inside me, and God is growing my heart and filling it with His love for her.

In a couple months, I'll have to share Baby Girl with you. And I will want to, but for now, I'm enjoying getting to know her all by myself : )

Psalm 139:13

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.