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How precarious it must have been

Sunday School and carols sing about the birth of Jesus and the role that Mary played as the mother of Jesus, and of Joseph, at first not only skeptical, but clearly hurt and wounded by the thought of his bride getting pregnant outside of marriage.
The nine months of Mary's pregnancy is more vivid for me today with two daughters - my daughter-in-law Sarah now in her 40th week awaiting our next Grandson, and my daughter Lindsay in her 34th week with twins, a boy and a girl.
Over the weekend we got word that Lindsay had to be hospitalized with high blood pressure and a concern for a condition called pre-eclampsia. She's being taken care of in a hospital, resting, and having tests done to see if there is unusual amounts of protein in the urine.
As a father, I'm concerned, and happy she's being taken care of. Our son-in-law, Peter, is keeping us abreast of what's happening, but being 4000 miles away with an ocean in between makes it all very anxious.

So, I've been meditating a bit on God's decision to send his son across the universe to be born into a young virgin...no hospitals to care for her and her baby. The infant mortality rate must have been high. Sarah is "great with child" and hopefully soon to have their second, and ours, son/grandson. Lindsay is "great with children" and waiting to see if the condition is not severe, or whether she will need to have a C-section and early birth for the twins.

I don't know if the Father ever gets nervous, but I know I wait with prayerful hope and a bit of nervous desire to have it all be ok.

Jack Hayford wrote:

"That you came is a wonder to me --
That you came in a manner so lowly,
Came to earth to live; came Your life to give.
That you came changed all history.

That you came brought the glorious Word--
Son of Man, named Jesus, the Savior.
What a gift the Father gave,
His only Son He sent to save me.

That you came changed my destiny.
That you came is a wonder to me.

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