I did it

I cannot believe I gave birth.  I mean seriously - every time I look at Jonah I'm like, "That was IN me?!  That came OUT of me?!"  After veritable decades of anticipating this monumental task, this completion of my own womanly war story with which I will join the ranks of mothering females everywhere to tell for centuries to come, it's over.  Just like that.  It's now in the past.  And you know what?  It was a piece of cake!  I can't believe it was so easy.  Being sick for 6 months of this pregnancy was much, much harder.  Having Jonah taken away to the NICU after his birth was much, much harder.  And no experience nor recovery, physical or emotional, comes close to the hardship of losing Elijah.

I'm very blessed that all went so well, both the delivery and current recovery.  It's not like that for every woman, and I was reminded of this when I read Jonah the story of Jesus' birth the other day.

We've been using this precious Bible given by Howard's aunt for his story time:

And in it we came across the story of a woman who was told not only would she be pregnant before she were married (hey mom and dad - guess what...funniest thing happened last night... heh heh) but she would be birthing not merely royalty, but holiness.  

This was the summer of the royal baby of course and it's been fun to have a baby in the midst of it.  It's sort of like when I was 4 and watched Bush's inauguration.  His granddaughters were having hot chocolate and chicken nuggets so Mom made me hot chocolate and chicken nuggets.  Duchess Kate had a baby boy so I had to too.  

Anyway, there've been lots of comparisons like funny web articles about how Kate's pregnancy is different from yours, the peon, and my doctor joking he'd reserve the entire labor and delivery wing of the hospital for me. The morning of Jonah's birthday I was walking outside the hospital and saw this sign someone posted:

"Her Royal Highness Queen of Boltonshire was safely delivered of a daughter at 4:21 today, August 27.  Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."

Thought that was hilarious.  All the jokes just draw attention to the fact that we women aren't royalty, that we are regulars who put up with the mundane hardship and normalcy of the simple life.

I'm not sure we've got that perspective quite right.  Let's take a look at Mary.  I'll never read this story the same again.  Ever.

So first of all, 9+ months near-labor Mary is put on a donkey by her husband Joseph.  Why?  Because they have to get some paperwork taken care of for a census.  I would have been like "count this buddy {insert obscene gesture here}!!"  But Mary gets on this donkey and rides to a town where Joseph forgot to make a hotel reservation.  His one job, seriously.

So Mary is then put in a BARN with ANIMALS.  I was worried about the smell of my labor and delivery room and brought supplies to make sure it was scented something lovely.  Can you imagine what that place smelled like for Mary?  I mean the woman is already nauseous - can we not also test that theory with animal poo?  On top of that she isn't looking at a fresh unread copy of Southern Living for a focal point either.  No, she's looking at -yep- you guessed it.  More donkeys.  Nothing like a barnyard birth to make you feel like a woman.  

I can only imagine what Mary must have been thinking (or at least what I would have been thinking which is why I'm guessing is part of why God didn't give me the immaculate child to carry):  "This was NOT in my birth plan!!"  "No you don't understand, this baby really IS royalty!!"

So then it's time.  I'm sure Joseph really knew what to do and was a great comfort (ha!). I mean think about it.  He was a virgin.  Did he even know where the baby would come out of?!  He probably thought it was like an Alien situation - straight through the belly button.

What if Jesus had been breech?!  Could Jesus have been breech?  Hm.  Not something I've ever come across in Howard's plethora of resources on Jesus' perfection.  Note to self: add exploration of Jesus' breechness to the Great Conversation.

OK - in a barn, with animals, with a clueless Joseph, and no epidural, no doctor.  I'm pretty sure I would not have looked like this (nor have been able to sit like this) when it was all said and done:

And I'm pretty sure Joseph's face wouldn't have been that put together, either...if he were even allowed near me at all.  Seriously buddy, Priceline.  It's a click away.

So the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, comes into the world in this most lowly, opposite of what we'd expect way.  I cant really grasp the full meaning of this humble entry, but I know this: that is so Jesus.