December 13, 2023
LISTEN TO AUDIO
I will always remember the night I became a father. We had been told early in the pregnancy that we were going to have twins. It was almost 10:30 at night and my wife had been in labor since 6:00 that morning. At the last minute and after months of preparation practicing natural childbirth, the doctor decided to do a C-section. I was quickly ushered out of delivery and into the waiting room where I joined our family and friends as we awaited the arrival of our children.
After a long time, a nurse finally walked through the door and announced, “Congratulations. You have two beautiful healthy babies.” And then she turned around and walked away.
“Wait a minute, are they boys or girls?” I asked.
"I think they're boys," she replied somewhat sheepishly since she obviously wasn’t sure.
“Well, would you please check?” I asked. She turned and promised she'd be right back.
Although we knew we were going to have twins, at that time the technology was not what it is today and there was no easy way to determine the babies’ sex before birth. They had strong heart beats and they were growing quickly, so the doctor predicted that they were probably either two boys or a boy and a girl. We chose names for two boys and a girl's name just in case. I imagined what our lives would be like with two sons or a son and a daughter. It never, ever occurred to me that they might both be girls.
The Bible says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 19:11 (NIV)
The nurse returned and with a grin declared, "Nope, they’re girls!!!"
God has a sense of humor!
I was shocked, dumbfounded, stunned and humbled. How could my thinking have been so limited? How could I have been so narrow-minded to not have even considered the possibility that they might both be girls?
In that moment I felt like God picked me up, shook me wide awake, reminded me of His presence and gave me a sense of awe in Him that has never left me. God gave me His gift of two beautiful, magnificent daughters, Erin and Lindsay, and I am blessed indeed to be their father.
God gave me these two because He wanted me to have two daughters. That was His plan for me. He knew far better than I what I needed. These two precious children have been blessings to me and today I cannot imagine my life without them.
Praise the Lord!
"I look at them and see two sisters connected by more than blood and shared existence. Two sisters who will draw strength and encouragement from each other as they move through life. I look at them and see two sisters, two lovely daughters, and I wonder: What have I unleashed upon the world?"
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, God's plans for us are far greater than our own!
QUESTION
How has God surprised you with unexpected blessings?
PRAYER
Lord, we are thankful that You have plans for each of us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. Do with us whatever You want and give us whatever we need. We trust You and we accept Your Will for our lives.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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