THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH

Luke 2: 6-7a - “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger …”.

December 24, 1966, blizzard conditions (including lightning/thunder), we put the boys to bed. It was an exciting night as the oldest, age 3 was anticipating a Tonka truck in the morning. The 1 year old was oblivious to the excitement, but happily asleep in his crib. Joe and I had been awaiting the birth of our “surprise” baby for several weeks. “Please don’t come on Christmas” I said to my belly. “I don’t want all that attention; a holiday, the ambulance, the awaiting hospital staff.” I don’t want to miss our young sons’ awaking to the excitement we had been planning (little did we know what we were in store for).

December 25, 1966, Joe awoke early to say he thought I was in labor (imagine, painless labor). I wanted to stay home and give birth, after all, the first 2 had been quite easy, but he raced to the phone to consult with our doctor, who of course said, try calling the squad. It seemed all of the East Amwell squad volunteers arrived to witness this birth. They even brought baby-sitters for the boys. Joe decided to stay home and celebrate the holiday with the boys. I was strapped into a gurney and carried to the ambulance. Fortunately a neighbor with a huge plow had kept us clear to the highway and off we went to the hospital where our beautiful daughter was born within minutes of arrival. It was not the birth we had anticipated.

I can’t help but make a few comparisons with Mary’s journey - riding a four-legged vehicle, certainly not the bed she had hoped to place her baby it, not exactly where she had anticipated having her baby, but a welcome place, warmed by the residents therein, cozily wrapped in soft cloths, surrounded by love.

“A Baby is A Miracle” by Ann Barton & Connie Thomas

A baby is a miracle, Oh, don’t you agree?
A baby is a miracle, a gift of life, a gift of love!
A baby makes the world seen bright, a wonder to see!
A baby, a baby a blessing from above!
We stand before the mystery in awe, yet do not fear,
For it lifts us up and seems to bring a glimpse of heaven near.
For a baby is a miracle the whole world around,
New life that is a sacred trust, a promise to humanity
That God’s love for His creation will ever abound.
A baby, a baby proves God’s love for me.

Thank you Lord for the miracle of birth. Thank you for the children you have brought into our lives. Thank you especially for the birth of Jesus. May He ever be in our hearts. Amen