31 Jul Christina, God’s Precious Gift of Peace

How can two parents ever forget the birth of their first child?

Standing by Carol in the delivery room, it was as if the rest of the world paused for a brief moment and paid its respects as this new life, this new hope, emerged and slowly but surely filled its lungs with air and let out a lusty yell to announce her presence on planet earth. As most of Carol’s and my friends know, my tales of Christina’s birth are legendary. While I have shared this special story many times verbally over the years, I just feel led to make it a part of Christina’s story here, which I find very cathartic to share during my quiet times.

In a scene that will forever be etched in my mind, I watched as my precious wife Carol delivered our little baby Christina into this world. A hush fell over the delivery room as they eventually placed this bundle of life into my arms. Wrapped in her new blanket, I looked into those almond-shaped blue eyes and immediately felt the presence of God guide me out of the delivery room and into a quiet, dark adjoining room. I do not know how I did this unnoticed, but I never felt the hand of God so strong upon me as I did in that moment as I slipped slowly and carefully to my knees and lifted her up gently towards her maker, and with tears streaming down my cheeks, I gave her to God. I was overcome with a sense that what I held in my arms far exceeded mine and Carol’s abilities to care for her alone without God’s hand of protection on her life. As Christina’s earthly father, that single moment has guided me through all the major moments of her life with a sense of God’s will, direction, and peace. With this special connection and bond that Christina and I have shared since her birth, I have many times been asked by close friends, how do you deal with her leaving for college? Are you worried about who she will marry?, and on and on, and it was always so funny how that moment next to the delivery room loomed large in my mind and I just smiled.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27