The first Sunday after I found out about our surprise baby I missed the sermon at our church. I was working nursery or dealing with a fussy child or something. However, we had planned to go to my folk's church for a Christmas potluck get-together afterward. We drove out to the little mission church on the Rez and it turns out they were just starting their prayer time so we joined them for the rest of their service, including the sermon. I felt like the pastor was preaching directly at ME as he talked about Mary and the angel's command, "Do not be afraid.....(Luke 2:29) He was talking about the difficulties of pregnancy and the times Mary lived in and reminding us that no matter what unexpected challenge we face in our lives today, that God is with us and will equip us for it. It was unbelievable how God encouraged me through his words!
Then, a week later we attended my in-law's church with them around the holidays when we were in MN. Guess what their pastor preached on? Mary, and the concept of fear! He outlined the many reasons she had to fear (possible stoning, divorce, loss of the man she loved, loss of her dreams for a good life, loss of reputation, giving birth in a stable, etc.) and talked about how she was willing to be God's servant in spite of it all. Once again I felt like God was re-inforcing to me in a profound way that He was going to be with us through another pregnancy no matter how tough it might be or how exhausting. What a blessing that we have such a God who controls the universe and yet still has time to bless miniscule me with the gift of bringing another child into the world and that He loves His children enough to speak to them and encourage them perfectly no matter what situation they are going through! I have no reason to fear the horrible sickness I get for many weeks, the exhaustion of being pregnant with two toddlers, the pain of childbirth, the possibility of another hemorrage after the birth, the fact that we need to move to a bigger place and get a minivan now, the fact that my husband wants a new job soon, miscarriage, the fear of what people will think (3 kids in 5 years of marriage!), how I'm going to chase 3 little ones with only 2 hands, the cost of another baby, etc. because my Loving Heavenly Father already has it covered. He blesses us with the strength to get through the tasks He has called us to. I have prayed before each of my 3 pregnancies that God would give us a baby in His perfect timing and according to His will, and though we may not have felt "ready" this time around, God has presented us with a new opportunity to exercise our faith in the coming year!
Happy New Year to all of you Blog Readers out there!
6 comments:
Lindsey, I know exactly what you are talking about when you describe fear.. there can be so much fear in a pregnancy!! Yet, God is so in charge and will provide for every need! I just finsihed watching "A Nativity Story" over the holidays, and if you haven;t seen it, I urge you to watch it. The way they portray Mary's decision to trust God in the midst of her fear is truly inspiring to me!
May God continue to be your source of strength! I'm praying for you!
Lindsey and Josiah! Congrats! How great is that! The excitement of bringing another little Swinborne into the world. I read this post and it brought tears to my eyes. Everything will be a-okay and you are right God is in control, no matter the situation. This new adventure will truly be a blessing to you! :)
Good for you :) I pray God blesses you...perhaps this pregnancy will be different. Each of my mom's seven were.
Congratulations, Lindsey and family!!! I was very excited to read this news. There is something about the announcement of a new pregnancy that makes a girl so happy, even if we don't know each other in "real life!" I will whisper a prayer for you guys tonight as I fall asleep next to my little blessing.
Lindsey- I just had to share the verse I love, and sometimes (being human) have to remind myself of...Matthew 6:25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”.. I know our God is AMAZING! I struggled just a few short months ago when the pregnancy we had planned and were so excited about ended in a miscarriage. I could tell myself over and over again that it wasn't in God's plan just yet, but my heart was still aching. However, I now know more than ever (just a few months following) that there is another baby for us in His plans, and even though, we don't know why he took the last child from us, we know this one (as well as our son) is a gift directly from HIM!! I will keep you in my prayers!! Congrats over and over...on your gift!! Isn't it fun to tell family at Christmas!!
Happy New Year! SO fun to see you guys in snowy MN last week... glad you made it home safe!
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