Thoughts: Hannah's Blog

Hope that is delayed makes you sad, but a wish that comes true fills you with joy. – Proverbs 13:12

And we were indeed filled with joy when we were blessed with the fruit of the womb after 4 years of marriage. I could relate with Hannah in the Bible(Samuel’s mother) Thank God I did not have a Peninah in my life! I did have well meaning friends and relatives who from time to time might have hurt me unintentionally. But I thank God, I had a loving husband, understanding in-laws and a loving Church community who constantly upheld me with their prayers.

God’s delays are not God’s denials. – Robert H. Schuller

It seemed as if my blessing was getting delayed, I also felt that it could be denied but I was yet to learn that His delays are not denials and what seems like delay to us is actually not so on God’s calendar! God assured me with his promises and had compassion on me. During September last year, God’s word came through our Pastor on breakthrough Sunday that God will soon give me a breakthrough and in December I got to know that I was expecting.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecc 3: 11.

I was due on August and my mom was getting retired on June 30 – perfect timing! I could come home and mom could take good care of me and the baby. If it were any time before, utmost she would have got leave for 2 months. At office, there was a hiring freeze and it was lifted briefly and they could hire a person in December and I had 6 months to transition my work seamlessly before maternity – Perfect timing! As I was due in Aug 13, I had applied for maternity leave from Aug 1. Then I was feeling a little sad that I would be having 10 days less leave to spend with the baby and guess what? Baby arrived early by July 29, right on time for my maternity leave!

The scan at the end of 8th month revealed that the baby was under-weight (till then all was normal, I was gaining the minimum weight required and so was the baby) so the doc suggested some drips twice a week, every week till delivery. Two sessions were done and 4 more to go.

29th July, 2017:

Early morning a thought popped in my head “What if I delivered today?” I just sent up a short prayer that God be with me and give me strength if it were so. Then the day proceeded as usual and I was having occasional discomfort while sitting which I attributed towards the growing tummy. Evening I was going shopping by auto and whenever I encountered a bump in the road I jokingly thought, if I get pains I can re-route the auto the hospital! And I actually went to the hospital pharmacy to get some meds around 7pm. After reaching home, I was feeling discomfort not just while sitting, that is when I thought what if it is “THE” pain. So I started timing the pain, it was irregular so I concluded it to be false pain.

Express delivery:

Mom called up a nurse to check with her. She advised to go check with the doc even if it is false pain, as the doc will not be available the next day being Sunday. It was 8:30 pm and the doc usually finishes the out patients. As we reached the hospital, her packed bags were being loaded into the car, she was seeing one last patient, we went in after that, She checked and said “3-finger opening, delivery will happen tonight, She must be in great pain.”

I was sent to the labor ward at 9. I was quite calm, reading the verses that were hung in the room. Some time later my mom and Pastor Aunty came to visit and pray with me. Then the doctor walked in around 9:30 and prayed before starting the procedure. By 10:20 pm the baby was born! It was a vacuum assisted normal delivery. I was and even now am surprised at how fast the delivery happened! I’ve heard stories of people being in labor a long while before delivering. All I can say is God has been gracious unto me! God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! And His timing is perfect!