What To Expect When You’re Expecting

Many of us have read this book, or at least glanced at it in a waiting room at one time or another.  While I was pregnant, I actually didn’t read it.  I DID read another book while I was pregnant with our first child, A Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy.  This book was a hilarious explanation of all the crazy stuff that your body will do, and not do, during pregnancy.  As a 1^st time Mom, I wanted to know what to expect, and I’ll always remember some of the funny lessons from that book.  There were other things I thought about, though, too…

My first son was born in January, so I was in my 8^th month during the Christmas season.  I couldn’t help but wonder how another 1^st time expecting mother handled these moments.  I would often think of Mary as I felt the turning baby in my womb, with hiccups and kicks.  This was the son my husband & I had planned for, who we had tried for months to conceive, who would change our lives forever.   

From one Mom to another, I thank Mary for her sacrifice.  The shame and loneliness she must have felt, and the perseverance she showed.   I thank Joseph for standing by his wife.  I can only assume he worked hard at making her as comfortable as possible.  Joseph surely spent time leading up to the birth just loving her for the gift she was, and for the blessing and gift that she would bring into the world.  This gift, of course, was not only Mary’s son, but GOD’s OWN Son, a gift that would be shared with and for the entire world.  I think even though they knew what was asked of them, they could never have known that with the birth of THIS  Child, they would never be the same.  And there were no “What To” or “Guide” books to help.  I’m grateful for how they followed God’s lead.   

[ Mary’s Song ]

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 

-Luke 1:46-47, 49

Irma Bates
Nursery Coordinator