Reflecting over the past 8 months of this pregnancy, one word comes to mind, grace. I have experienced God's grace in so many tangible and real ways day in and day out. I have found myself in tears at times over the sanctification process, and have been met by the love of God over and over again, always giving me exactly the dispensation of grace I need for that very moment. I've learned more of my own weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures; and yet I have seen the Gospel as more beautiful, glorious, and precious then ever before. Pregnancy has shown me God's grace in new and unique ways, and for that, I am beyond grateful.
As I spent time with the Lord and reflected over the last 8 months and prayed for the remaining 4 weeks or so (Lord-willing), I kept coming back to the Christmas story. I pictured Mary, 9 months pregnant, traveling on a donkey, for days...what a journey that must have been. I imagine her pregnancy, and the ups and downs she must have experienced while carrying a child. I can't even fathom what she must have felt knowing that the little baby inside of her womb WAS the SAVIOR of the world! What an incredible privilege, and yet at the same time, what a hard reality to grasp. I wonder if she too was sanctified through her pregnancy, and I know she had to have been. As I feel Brayden moving around inside of me, I imagine what it must have been like for her to have JESUS CHRIST move around inside of her. Mary must have experienced grace daily as she carried this little one, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Then I think about Joseph, and the responsibility he bore. Not only was he being entrusted to raise a child, but he was being called to be faithful to raise the Son of God! I imagine the countless prayers he must have prayed for his wife and his son and how he prayed for God's equipping to do what seemed impossible. The sanctification he too must have experienced was filled with much growth I am sure. And yet, I am certain, that Joseph too would have received just the grace he needed for each step of the way.
And then there is Jesus. The baby Jesus, this precious infant growing inside a womb the same way that my little one is growing inside of me. His little hands, his little nose, his little heart; all developing just the way each child does, for 40 weeks (or so), by the grace of God. I cannot even fathom my Savior as a baby. What a humbling experience for him, and what a truly precious gift for us. To know that Jesus came into the world the same humbling way we all do, as a helpless babe, entrusted to fallen human parents to raise, nurture, and teach him. And he was the one bringing the way and the means to the very grace that his parents were experiencing, and myself today. He WAS grace.
It is so special to carry a child during Christmas, especially a son, because it makes the Christmas story all the more real, and tangible. I can relate to Mary in a whole new way, and I can picture a baby Jesus so vividly.
Keith pointed out the providence of God in the timing of our son's birth in relation to our celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas. Our son, unlike Jesus, is coming into this world fallen and depraved. And yet, there was a baby born 2000 years ago, at Christmas time, who can save him from that depravity. Our son's life from conception to death can be replaced with the perfect life of the Savior, from conception to death, and victory over that death. What a glorious truth, what a precious promise of grace, and what a hope we have. As we reflect on Christmas, and anticipate our son's arrival, God is yet again, pouring out grace as he has done for me through this entire pregnancy (and my entire life); He is reminding me of the essence of grace in the Gospel born on Christmas day. His grace came in the flesh on Christmas Day as a little baby, for me, for my son if He so comes to Him, for anyone who would believe. Thank you Jesus for coming, for your grace.
As I spent time with the Lord and reflected over the last 8 months and prayed for the remaining 4 weeks or so (Lord-willing), I kept coming back to the Christmas story. I pictured Mary, 9 months pregnant, traveling on a donkey, for days...what a journey that must have been. I imagine her pregnancy, and the ups and downs she must have experienced while carrying a child. I can't even fathom what she must have felt knowing that the little baby inside of her womb WAS the SAVIOR of the world! What an incredible privilege, and yet at the same time, what a hard reality to grasp. I wonder if she too was sanctified through her pregnancy, and I know she had to have been. As I feel Brayden moving around inside of me, I imagine what it must have been like for her to have JESUS CHRIST move around inside of her. Mary must have experienced grace daily as she carried this little one, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Then I think about Joseph, and the responsibility he bore. Not only was he being entrusted to raise a child, but he was being called to be faithful to raise the Son of God! I imagine the countless prayers he must have prayed for his wife and his son and how he prayed for God's equipping to do what seemed impossible. The sanctification he too must have experienced was filled with much growth I am sure. And yet, I am certain, that Joseph too would have received just the grace he needed for each step of the way.
And then there is Jesus. The baby Jesus, this precious infant growing inside a womb the same way that my little one is growing inside of me. His little hands, his little nose, his little heart; all developing just the way each child does, for 40 weeks (or so), by the grace of God. I cannot even fathom my Savior as a baby. What a humbling experience for him, and what a truly precious gift for us. To know that Jesus came into the world the same humbling way we all do, as a helpless babe, entrusted to fallen human parents to raise, nurture, and teach him. And he was the one bringing the way and the means to the very grace that his parents were experiencing, and myself today. He WAS grace.
It is so special to carry a child during Christmas, especially a son, because it makes the Christmas story all the more real, and tangible. I can relate to Mary in a whole new way, and I can picture a baby Jesus so vividly.
Keith pointed out the providence of God in the timing of our son's birth in relation to our celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas. Our son, unlike Jesus, is coming into this world fallen and depraved. And yet, there was a baby born 2000 years ago, at Christmas time, who can save him from that depravity. Our son's life from conception to death can be replaced with the perfect life of the Savior, from conception to death, and victory over that death. What a glorious truth, what a precious promise of grace, and what a hope we have. As we reflect on Christmas, and anticipate our son's arrival, God is yet again, pouring out grace as he has done for me through this entire pregnancy (and my entire life); He is reminding me of the essence of grace in the Gospel born on Christmas day. His grace came in the flesh on Christmas Day as a little baby, for me, for my son if He so comes to Him, for anyone who would believe. Thank you Jesus for coming, for your grace.
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