My friend Jill is a pro at birth. Her body grows the most beautiful, healthy, and large babies! And her body knows just how to deliver them. This was her sixth child, her fourth home birth. She was only in active labor for about 2 hours and then this perfect nine pound nine ounce bundle slid safely into the arms of his Mommy and Daddy.
Bryce was on hand with the camera, of course and she documented it well. Maybe she will give me a few pictures to post as soon as Jill has seen them. Lyndsey, who sometimes says she would like to be a midwife herself, also got to see it. She thought it was awesome - well, until the placenta was delivered. When the midwife examined the placenta to be sure it was all intact, I think that kind of got to her a little bit. Later, she said to me, "Mom, I started to sweat when she started 'playing' with the placenta." Well, she is only 12, so in a few years if God is leading her to be a midwife, I'm sure placentas will be totally normal for her!
So, back to my quote. "We have a secret in our culture. It's not that birth is painful, it is that women are strong."
I am no feminist. In fact I am probably the farthest thing from it. I totally believe that I was created to be my husband's helper. That is why I am on the earth. My nature as a woman is to help my husband and mother my children. That's it. I have absolutely no arguments about that, even though my sin nature rebels from time to time and I want to control my family. Deep down in my spirit and even in my head and heart, I know why I am here. I deserve nothing good, yet from the hand of an awesome God I continuously receive blessing after blessing. Our children being the best of them all.
When I think about this quote, I don't see it as a feminist, "woman power" type of quote at all. When I watched my friend deliver her baby, strong is definitely a word that came to mind. Not strong physically - certainly her husband could overpower her with brute strength any day. But, strong deep down in the spirit - resilient might even be another good word to use. Women through the ages have, through service to their husbands and families persevered through ordinary, seemingly mundane and often tragic circumstances to fulfill God's purposes for their lives.
We have a book that my girls and I love to read called Daughters of Destiny. It is compiled of selections of literature from all points in history and I am looking right now at the introduction. One statement is standing out to me and it says this, "Created from Adam's rib, woman was meant from the beginning, to be by man's side; to be his loving companion; to encourage his heart - woman was destined to serve."
Bearing children is part of that service to our husbands. It is an honor and a privilege, yes, and it is our very great reward. However, to say that it is easy would be a lie. It is a service that only a woman can provide. Our husbands, as amazing as they are, can not bear children to carry on their names. It is physically impossible. Growing another human being inside of you for nine months and then delivering him or her into the world is something that I don't think we contemplate often enough. I have no illusions that "I" did it, all the glory goes to God - but, just the concept is such a miracle, yet because it happens day after day, I believe we take it for granted. We don't really wrap our brains around the complexity of two cells meeting and forming a perfect miniature combination of two people. I am no scientist, but the science of it is so intricate that it blows my mind to try to think of it all. Yet, God does it day after day deep in the inward parts of women worldwide.
"For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
I want to end with a poem from the book. The author is unknown, but in light of Independence Day, as well as in honor of my friend Jill and all mother's everywhere, I think it is a great statement.
What Our Country Needs
What does our country need? Not armies standing
With sabres gleaming ready for the fight;
Not increased navies, skillful and commanding,
To bound the waters with an iron might;
Not haughty men with glutted purses trying
To purchase souls, and keep the power of place;
Not jeweled dolls with one another vying
For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.
But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly
With rare meekness, born of gentleness;
Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy,
The women whom all little children bless;
Brave, earnest women, helpful to each other,
With finest scorn for all things low and mean;
Women who hold the names of wife and mother
Far nobler than the title of a queen.
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