This December, I
find a sense of joy in the fact that, because of Jacqueline, I get to share in a little of what Mary must
have felt. Luke 2:5 describes her as “being
great with child”, and, at 36 weeks, this Christmas, that is exactly where I
find myself! Knowing the desire in my own heart for everything to be clean, and
comfortable, and ready for when this baby arrives, I have a keener sense of the
FAITH Mary must have had! She was
traveling, probably walking miles upon miles, with no knowledge of where her
Baby would be born, or if she’d even make it to Bethlehem in time. How many nights did she lay awake, imagining
herself giving birth out in the wilderness, somewhere? Wondering if Joseph and
she would know what to do, when the time came?
Luke 2:6-7 tells
us, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: because there was
no room for them in the inn.” Labor was
upon her, there was no shelter for them except a humble stable, and Mary did
what she had to do – She was specifically chosen by God - the right mother for
the job! It is a beautiful and
comforting thought to me that, no matter under what circumstances Jacqueline is
born, when the days are “accomplished” that I, too, should “be delivered”, I’ll
be the right mother for the job!
During these
final weeks of my pregnancy, I sometimes find myself tearfully wondering if I’m
really ready to take care of TWO children.
During one such recent night of reflecting, the Lord sweetly gave me II
Timothy 1:7 to hold onto: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I don’t have to be afraid of having
two little ones . . . The Lord will give me the strength and the love that I
need to care for them, and will help me to keep my sanity, in the midst of it
all! SMILE! He has CHOSEN ME to be their
mother!
So many special
things followed the birth of Mary’s Baby Boy: the arrival of the shepherds, the
admiration of the wise men, the rejoicing of Simeon and Anna, the night flight
into Egypt . . . Mary had to be the right Mommy for God’s chosen Messiah,
through all of that! She needed peace, and tranquility, and faith – all of
which came from the Lord! This December, as I begin quickly approaching my own
due date, I want to have a little more of the faith and the strength that Mary
must have had! I can’t just crumble
because I’m a bit scared that nursing a newborn and taming a toddler at the
same time, is going to be too much! If I
want Brooklyn and Jacqueline to one day be women of faith, I need to maintain
that godly faith, myself! In II Timothy 1:5, Paul says, “When I call to
remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice;
and I am persuaded that in thee also.” Genuine faith is an EXAMPLE to the
generations following! One day, my girls
are going to be calling to cry on MY shoulder about their mothering fears and
anxieties, and I want to be ready when they do!
I want to be ready to say, in all honesty, “The Lord helped guide ME
through such days, and He will be right there to help you, too!”
This Christmas, I
write to you, battling back aches, fatigue, mood swings, and Braxton Hicks
contractions, but I’m THE RIGHT WOMAN FOR THE JOB! SMILE! I GET to bring
another little life into the world! I
GET to help raise another young lady for the Lord Jesus! I GET to look into
another beautiful little face and know that God has richly blessed the love my
dear husband and I have for each other! This is my PRIVILEGE! When Mary thought
about all that the Lord was doing IN her and THROUGH her, she lifted up her
voice and said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in
God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46-47) Thank
You, Lord Jesus, for making me and enabling me to be a MOM!
A very special “Merry
Christmas” to all of you, Ladies! God Bless!