I was watching the TLC show 'A Baby Story' yesterday. Its a lovely show encapsulating a family's preparation for the new baby, until....the labor and delivery. I don't know about anyone else, but even though I've experienced it, watching a baby being delivered still freaks me out a little. I can imagine why my husband zoned out and went to his 'happy place' when Daniel was being born. Daniel will be a year old next month. I don't know where the months went, seems like yesterday Oscar was swerving madly to the hospital,with me bellowing my guts out. My sister and Oscar look back with such fondness on that excruciatingly long car drive to the New York Presbyterian Hospital. The 9 months wait was a mixture of happiness and terror at the prospect of being parents to another human being. But as the day grew closer, the anticipation of seeing our little chickpea mounted. There were days when it seemed like it was never going to end! Especially, towards the end of my pregnancy when Deepa became 'the walking watermelon'. The back aches, puffy feet that had gone up 2 sizes, sleepless nights thanks to the massive globe of a belly, bruised ribs caused by a soccer fan baby and artistic stretch marks, all made me want this baby to come out already! To add to the drama, Daniel decided to have Mommy endure 3 days of labor pains. (For any men who are reading this and who will have children in the future, please be ready with ices, massages, lots of 'I love yous' and a 'push present' since you will never have the privilege of experiencing the glorious throes of labor. Please do not say 'You look beautiful' since we know we don't and will probably warrant a smack to the head. Just a thought).
At the hospital, 24 hours later with no progress, my doctor decided that a C section was needed. I was devastated, I was so close .... I had all these plans of having a natural birth with no medication and nothing went as planned .... only to have a C- section at the last minute. I was so blessed to have my husband, sister and a long time close friend by my side, to encourage me and hold my hand. Finally, at 5.57pm on July 15th, my little baby boy was born. I cannot explain the relief and joy that I felt when I saw Daniel. Indescribable.
Waiting for God to answer our prayers or rescue us from a difficult situation we're knee deep in can be agonizing. Some days we're hopeful and there are days when we just want it to end. Every plan we've made has been thrown a curve ball and we're left with nothing except to wait for God. We come an inch to the finish line but it just seems to go on forever, with no end in sight. "When will you answer God? How much longer?" But when God does answer us, maybe not in the way or at the time we were expecting, the joy and triumph of it all, supersedes the heartache of waiting. In the meantime, we have our brothers and sisters in Christ, who stand by us, holding our hand and telling us 'you can do this'. Waiting is needed, for faith to mature and grow.
Every time I look at my C section scar, I don't remember the pain but I do remember overwhelming happiness the day my little miracle was born. It was worth it all. Looking back on all my life struggles, the anguish of waiting for God is a blur, but I do remember how every single time, God came through for me in a miraculous way. It was worth the wait.
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Hebrews 6:15
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Rom 5:3,4
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