Thoughts on Pregnancy :: 20 Weeks

I was reflecting this morning on the state my body is in... being pregnant. Yesterday marked 20 weeks of our pregnancy, with 20 left to go. We are pretty excited to be at the half way point, and even more excited to meet our little boy!  The way God has created the human body, with the capacity to fully form another human is in itself completely astounding. While being miraculous, pregnancy also carries its share of aches, pains and physical changes that at times can be uncomfortable.  I am so glad to know that this situation is temporary and that these discomforts in light of eternity, last only for a moment. Here are 2 things that i was pondering this morning...



#1- There is something ALIVE inside of me!

Isn't that an absolutely amazing thing? I can already feel him move around and kick. His heart is beating at a rate different to mine. I've seen him multiple times thanks to ultrasound technology.  He is constantly moving his hands, his feet and flipping his little body around.  Last week the doctor gave us his first 'video' in 3D.  Even though he's still dependent on me for life he is fully ALIVE.  For this short moment in time i bear the responsibility of 2 people, 2 lives, 2 unique person-hoods in one body. God is at work "knitting" his body together inside of me, in fact he is already fully formed! The last half of pregnancy is to prepare for life outside of the womb.

14 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

15 

My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

The truths of Psalm 139 give me great peace. They remind me that God is in control. Pregnancy has been one of the areas of life that has most tested my faith. My husband would tell you I am a planner. I am the one who books our family vacations at last 6 months in advance, likes things organized and often pre-prepared.  But pregnancy challenges all of that, because it is very much unseen and outside of my grasp of control. But the author of Hebrews tells us, "...faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

So although i would like to plan every aspect of childbirth, i don't have to. Because God knows all the days ordained for my little one (and for me!) before one of them came to be. He is trustworthy and all-powerful and able to bring this little one safely into our arms. When we can't control things, we often tend to worry, but the Bible also calls us out on this pointless task... "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:27

#2 - The person inside of me has an eternal soul!

As much as it amazes me that something is alive inside of me, it is even more wondrous to me that this little being is eternal. When people wondered if it was a boy or a girl, my husband used to joke, "as long as it's not a puppy!" But seriously, the little boy growing inside me not only has the potential to impact life here on earth during his lifetime, but to change eternity. If he chooses to trust Christ, he will have eternal life and make an eternal impact on God's kingdom! A friend recently told me that she doesn't want to have kids because the world is such a dark, horrible place. But we believe that God has called us to be a light in the darkness, and that these children he has entrusted to us can also shine like a light in dark places! {Philippians 2:15, Matthew 5:16}