Unexpected Turns

It was their first…and it was supposed to be a boy.

And there had been two lavishing shower events full of all things boyish and blue. And they had imagined and pondered and anticipated his birth for months, preparing the room, washing the clothes, selecting his name, and dreaming of this very day.

And the labor began and had progressed with ease, and I met them bright and early, ready to push him into the light.

And even the pushing was fast…and what a blessing that always is. And I rejoiced with them as it happened…this perfect baby breathing first breaths.

And their eyes wide with wonder, and the tear-filled amazement that birth always brings.

She embraced that wet baby on her chest, and we dried and rubbed and gave apgars and such.

“How cute she is!” the drying-off nurse exclaimed.

And the room hushed, the moment stood still, and the mood shifted…

“Did you say SHE?”

And after the initial shock and strain…to wrap their minds around this monumental shift…they held her and embraced her as if they’d been expecting her this whole time.

And I watched her pink chubby face stare right straight up into her mama’s eyes, and I saw this mama look down, with that nice-to-meet-you-I’m-in-awe-and-overwhelmed smile…and they bonded right there before my eyes.

And how many times in this life are we expecting a boy and we get a girl? Expecting that certain result, and getting something different…something we would never really anticipate or ever imagine, the unthinkable really.

Sometimes we are hit with surprises…

Changes in the plan,

Curves in the road,

Unexpected Turns.

 

And that girl just might be exactly what He’s determined I’ve needed…and that girl may grow me, and stretch me, and mold me, to become all I have needed to be.

And it’s not really about boys or girls, but about what He has for me…His perfect gifts designed just for me! And He loves me too much to simply give only what I’m expecting. It’s the change, and my adaptation to it, that matures me and perfects me…completes me and conforms me, if I let it. And I can’t wait to see what will happen next…for He’s certainly been so very good to me.

May your unexpected turns, {after that initial jolt}, bring unexpected joys you would have never, ever known. And may you SEE them and give thanks for them, is my prayer.

Counting One Thousand Gifts {#1013-1023}…and counting…

#1013 Her 2nd Saturday-afternoon piano recital

#1014 Very warm, dry fall sunshine

#1015 Husband’s wise and helpful words

#1016 The never-ending wonder of birth before my eyes

#1017 Unexpected surprises…delightful changes in my path

#1018 Leaves turning and dropping

#1019 Lesson-plan helps from my sweet mother-in-law

#1020 Scripture memory together…learning to hide His Word

#1021 Family music times…guitar, piano, and singing

#1022 Big “smell-them-in-deep” embraces

#1023 Surrendered Hymn-singing..”I surrender ALL…”

 

What unexpected change has brought you joy?

 Photo credit: Creationformula

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