Baby
Makes Three
By June Mahan
December 1994
It was a cool and quiet December night as she
climbed back into bed for the third time.
She eased in quietly so not to wake her husband and tried to find a
comfortable position. One was finally
found and then the child in her womb moved to find a position in his cramped
quarters. Her thoughts turned to the
child as she again began wondering whether it was a boy or girl, what features
of her and her husband it had acquired, and when it would arrive to make theirs
a family of three.
She
didn’t have long to wonder as the child was due any time. She hoped it would not be too close to
Christmas as family was meeting at their house to celebrate the birth of their
child and another so many years ago. She
thought of the child born long ago and how he didn’t have much: no nursery
painted in vivd colors, no crib with matching sheets and a comforter, nor a
dresser and closet filled to the brim with beautiful clothes. No, he only had a manager filled with straw,
swaddling clothes, and parents. The
parents, though, could provide the best thing of all and that was love. In the same way, her child and the one long
ago would have much in common.
She
was getting uncomfortable and so it became necessary to find another
position. She moved as easily as
possible and then settled back down. Her
mind turned to motherhood and all the feelings she had as she faced it. There was joy, apprehension, nervousness,
happiness, and a million questions. How
had Mary so long ago felt? She had to
travel over a great distance while in the last of her pregnancy, arrive in a
town where there was no one she knew, and live in a stable with the
animals. There were no showers to help
prepare for the baby, no family to gather in the waiting room and no mother to
give advice after the birth. Surely she
had many more questions! Faith and
knowledge that this child was from God must have been Mary’s strength as it
would be her own, she thought.
Her
husband stirred beside her and she looked over at his sleeping form. What a loving and caring man this was, she
thought. He had been so understanding
through the pregnancy, helping out as he could, doing the nursery, ooh-ing and
aah-ing over all the gifts. She loved
the way he asked about her doctor visits and readily attended childbirth
class. He had made everything so much
easier. Had Joseph been the same
way? At first, it must have been very
hard for him to accept the fact that it was an immaculate conception but then
he lovingly took Mary as his bride. Had
he done chores for her when she began to tire or her feet began to swell? Did he worry if she was eating enough? When the birth began, had he panicked or had
he given love and support? She didn’t
know the answer to these questions, but she knew he praised and thanked God for
the child that had been provided to show the way. Her husband also thanked God for the blessing
and miracle of the child inside her.
She
felt a pain and wondered if the time had finally arrived. As she laid waiting for the next one, her heart
raced with joy and slowed with apprehension.
Was she really ready for this?
Could she fulfill the needs of this little one coming? Another pain grabbed her and she knew the
time had come. As she leaned over to
awaken her husband, she smiled to herself.
Like the little family long ago made it through with faith in and help
from God, so would hers.
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