On April 19, 2007, Thomas (my husband) and I found out we were having a baby. More specifically on August 13, 2007, we found out we are having a baby boy! The due date is Christmas day, December 25th! Our son's name will be Anthony Thomas Harris and we will call him Anthony. We are excited that God has blessed us with such favor.
My journey so far has not been easy. The first 15-16 weeks of the pregnancy, I was sick non-stop and lost 8 lbs. When I entered into the second trimester, I thought all the pains would be gone. After all, I had been told the second trimester is the "feel good" time of the pregnancy. Instead I have experienced back pains, trouble sleeping, heartburn, and the list goes on and on. I am claiming my "feel good" time will be all through the third trimester and delivery!
I look back and thank God for the pain, because through the discomfort He has brought many of those teachable moments to me. Thomas and I attended a child birth class on September 1. The class taught the techniques of pain management. The key points were to find a focal point and focus on it then breathe deep. An important word of advice was not to panic. There is a pain cycle that begins with anxiety. The anxiety causes tension, the tension causes pain, the pain causes anxiety.....more anxiety, more tension, more pain....and on and on the circle goes round and round.
The teachable moment was this....When we go through the most difficult pains of our life, God desires for us to make Him our focal point, to breathe deep, and not to panic. If we stay calm and endure the pain, this too will pass and the joy will soon come.
"You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." - John 16:20-22 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Heather Harris
September 7, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
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