Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Labor (04/19/04)
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TITLE: Labor Of Love By B Price 04/21/04 |
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My baby girl, now a grown woman, was having her first child. Wow, where has the time gone? March 6th was the day our first grandchild was born. This was supposed to be one of the most joyous day of a parent’s life. There was only one problem, there was another “mom” holding my little girl’s hand and wiping her face while I stood at the foot of the bed. I was the one that brought her into the world and now my heart was breaking. Yes, I felt privileged to be there to see the birth of my grandchild, but I wanted to be the one holding her hand instead of being a bystander. I was hurt every time Missy cried out to her step-mom. No one there understood why I was so hurt. This was my baby girl who was in labor and giving all she had to bring my grandchild into this world.
Fourteen months later, my dear daughter was about to have our second grandchild. I let Missy know that I would understand if she wanted her step-mom by her side again. I felt, in my heart, that it would be hard on me again if the stepmother was chosen instead of me. I knew I could not stand being a bystander again. I had a few close friends, who knew my feelings about the situation, praying for me. I wanted to be the one my daughter cried out to.
I had a stepfather and a biological father. My stepfather meant the world to me. I knew Missy’s stepmother was important in her life, also. Now, the wheel had been turned, I was the one that was acting childish by not wanting the step-mom in the room. I wanted my daughter to myself. Missy had a hard decision to make, but eventually chose me to be by her side. I was being selfish and God revealed this to me in more ways than one as time was getting closer for Missy to go into labor.
May 30th came and we were all assembled at the hospital. Missy’s dad and stepmother were with us. I knew what I had to do. I had to find forgiveness in my heart and allow her to be with us in the room. With Missy in labor, the room was being prepared. I decided to take a walk down the hall with the stepmother. I had raised my children to not use the word “step” and to consider their new parent as a mother. I realized I needed to asked her to forgive me for being selfish, and I wanted her to be with us for the delivery of our grandchild. I began telling her why my feelings had been hurt during the birth of our first grandchild. She was totally unaware of these things. For the first time she really understood my feelings. We were both with Missy when the time came for our 2nd granddaughter to be born. I was up next to Missy, being the coach, and the stepmother at the foot of the bed.
Two years later we were again going through another birth. This time, not only were the two “mothers” with Missy, but also her two “fathers” along with her mother-in-law. She had her whole family surrounding her. Because of Missy’s labors of love the stepmother and I now enjoy a close bond.
Each day of our children’s lives is filled with labors of love. There are not enough words to express the feelings a parent goes through when their child gives birth to their children. No matter if it is the first, second or third, each one is a labor of love and unique in itself.
by: B Price aka Harvest