First Breath

Hello friends! It’s been a long, long time. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. I should have written sooner. Forgive me, please. 

Twenty-one years ago yesterday, I witnessed a miracle. I was in the delivery room with a friend the day her beautiful baby girl came into this world. Obviously, I witnessed the birth of my two children prior, but I was a little too preoccupied to realize the miracle at the time. 

This time I was the one coaching and encouraging and it was beautiful. I think the reason I remember this experience so vividly is because when it was time for this sweet miracle to make her entrance, there was no stopping her.

Just ask the nurse who did her best to remain calm, while she waited for the doctor to get in the room and get his gloves on. In my mind, the nurse was holding back the bundle of joy because the doc walked right up, caught the baby, and proceeded on. Just.like.that. 

What an exciting moment. Her first breath and I was there for it. 

About 10 years later, I witnessed the birth of a baby boy. Another exciting moment. His first breath and I was there for it.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thinking about this 21st anniversary, and with it being so close to Christmas made me think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She too carried a sweet baby boy in her womb until the appointed time. I imagine she felt Him move and even received a foot or two to her ribs. She felt the onset of labor as contractions began and it may have frightened her. She was a first-time mom; it would be understandable. Her water broke, or maybe it didn’t, either way, it was time. The precious Baby that we would one day call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, made His appearance and took His first breath. Then Mary cradled her baby boy in her arms and held Him close. Mary was no different than mothers today, and Jesus, He was a baby, who cried and crawled, that would grow to be the Savior of the world. What a glorious day that was!

Jesus came to earth to show us how to live and died to show His love for us. 

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My prayer for you is that 2023 be your best year yet! May you experience Jesus in new and exciting ways. May you understand how true joy, which comes from the hope we have in Jesus Christ, can fill your heart every day! In your weakest moments, you tap into the strength He has provided us and learn to work in His strength, not yours. I pray that you walk in the peace He supplies and like a fountain, it continuously bubbles up inside of you. That on your saddest days you reach for Him and know that you are wrapped in His love, comfort, and joy and that He is singing over you. That you hold tight to the anchors of faith and hope that keep you afloat. I pray that you walk in the full, rich life that Jesus Christ lived and died for, and draw nearer and nearer to Him every day. And finally, if you haven’t already, I pray that you find the sweetness in walking with Jesus.

This Christmas season, remember that Jesus’ first and last breath was all for us. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Til next time. . .