I thought my next entry would be a birth announcement. Instead I find it a way to tire myself at 2:30 am to go back to sleep after being up with a teething one-year old, frustrated husband and to be perfectly honest, probably out-of-whack hormones. I have spent some time in prayer tonight and I have emailed a friend. Although these two events may seem mutually exclusive, they are actually the inspiration for this entry and the wisdom bestowed upon me tonight.
My students at school tell me I should upgrade my pay-as-you-go, outdated cell phone. I tell them someone has to stay in the dark ages in the phone department and it might as well be me. I only use it for emergencies.
I am ONE full day past my due date. I have to preface every phone call I make with, "Hi, I'm not in labour." Chris, who is far more tech savvy than I, gets multiple texts a day asking about the baby's pending arrival. I get inquisitive emails and Facebook messages to which I politely respond. You would think this baby was a month overdue or we were trying to hide that it has been born. I am definitely not upgrading my cell phone. It is far too easy for our instantaneous "want now, get now" modern lifestyle (that such technology endorses) to rob us of the fruits of the spirit and tempt us away from trusting God.
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
I am I eager for this baby to be born? Yes. But, I need to thank God for the joy of waiting. My favourite time of year is advent. The anticipation of Christmas. Mary's anticipation of Jesus. I feel like I have been waiting long because Rylyn was born at 38 weeks and I am now 40 weeks. I have only begun to enjoy the waiting and disregard the hidden pressure.
Baby will come in God's time. Until then, I will rest in the joy that comes with anticipation. That joy is found when I get a landline phone message from my aunt that says, "Don't call me back, I know I'll hear the news when it arrives, but I wanted you know I was thinking of you today." That joy is found in an email I send a friend to thank her for being there and waiting with me. And soon, that joy of waiting will be replaced with the joy of arrival.
