I have two dear ones I've been watching and praying for these past 9 months, both kindred to me, both bearing girls, both husbands clueless, but sweetly accommodating. Both could not have hoped for more perfect pregnancies. Both young, beautiful, healthy (only gaining a mere 20 pounds each!).
The first progressed beautifully after her epidural and only pushed a few minutes before her daughter was lifted up onto her chest all bundled and pink, eyes wide and shining. I have truly never seen more glorious laughter and delight in a child being born.
The second, oh how devastated as her precious girl was whisked from the room after only a glance and not to be held for another 3 days! The frustration of labor un-progressed and imminent c-section for concerned safety. The agony of missing the bonding period, the time to feed and be close, to know her baby and let her baby know her. All taken from her in a brief moment. I have never seen more labored tears.
Nothing can be fully expected. Nothing can be foreknown. All is new, and all is grace. I watched these two transition to motherhood with such transparency, each bearing a story, a victory, a voice to be heard. Neither one knowing what could have been, what sadness, what joy. Each clinging to the moment of first glance, whether brief or lingering long.
When the 3 days had past and my dear one finally held her angel for the first time and looked into her eyes, the joy-tears and the healing came. All was not lost. Yes, it took more of a fight. Yes, it took more time to re-bond, to re-establish a feeding routine, to restore the severed link.
Her husband spoke of this, saying, "I never expected the pain watching a mother being separated from her child, and I never expected the happiness of seeing them together."
Expect nothing, and behold everything as gift, as grace.
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