Living less than 4 hours from family, we have thoroughly enjoyed making the short drive for weekend visits. I’ve almost gotten our preparations memorized. Of course I pack the clothes for all of us, as well as our toiletries. We even decided to just leave toothbrushes there after we forgot to pack them over a long weekend. Our preparations now include packing food, both for the drive as well as the stay. And we’ve learned to always pack an extra set of clothes in case we’re able to stay an extra day.
When we tell the kiddos that we’re going to see the cousins, aunts and uncles, and their Papa, they get so excited and race to pack. They don’t yet understand the concept of packing sensible things like clothes or food – no, they pack toys, stuffed animals, favorite blankets, and books. It’s the same when we plan to spend time at the beach. They throw their swimsuits on race to the van while I pack sunscreen, snacks, drinks, towels, and a change of clothes. Something I also pack with each of our expeditions is my first aid kit. Bug bites are normal, scrapes are always anticipated, and my kids always seem to get some type of head injury or twisted joint. So my custom-made first aid kit is always within reach.
While I never did any scouting, I do believe in being prepared. Just like with this pregnancy coming to an end, I think it’s very important to be prepared. Little sleepers and onsies await, cleaned, folded and put away. Blankets for receiving (whatever that means), crib and sheets assembled and ready, and then I remember: I should have a bag packed for the hospital, shouldn’t I? Hospitals appreciate early “registration” and I can’t help but laugh at how silly it sounds. Am I going to a conference? Am I staying in a fancy hotel? They want us to “pre-register” now? And provide a birthing plan? The only birthing plan I ever had was whether or not I wanted an epidural. Now I can request things from a huge list: massage, water birth, music, television, assisted or non-assisted delivery, coaching, a birthing ball or stool, essential oils, lights dimmed or not, and on down to what I want to be wearing.
While I’m all about being prepared, having my own check-list of things I consider important, the birthing plan caught me off guard. My first reaction, and what is still going through my mind, is that every labor and delivery is a little different. I don’t know what I’ll want! I’ve never used a birthing ball before, so I have no idea if it’s something that I’ll appreciate. A massage is something I would normally be all for, but I don’t want some stranger touching me when I’m going through something so… personal. And with COVID, I’m now told that I have to wear a mask throughout the entire thing – as if labor and delivery isn’t uncomfortable enough already, let’s do some heavy breathing and major pushing while wearing a mask. But being prepared also means being aware of what to expect ahead of time.
Jesus tried several times to prepare his disciples for his departure, and they were still surprised. I wonder if Judas, having heard Jesus state that one of them would betray Him, thought about that declaration as he walked the very path to betray Him. Peter, being told that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, I wonder if he even noticed what he was doing the first or second time he denied knowing his Redeemer… but the realization most certainly hit him when he heard the rooster. They were told exactly what was going to happen and they were still caught off guard.
Then there are the things that we’re not to know. Like in labor and delivery, I have no idea which of two doctors I’ll have (or any number of others in an emergency), I have no idea how long I’ll be in labor, I don’t know the day or time (no plan for being induced), I have no idea whether or not I’ll have my husband with me, and I don’t even know for certain that I’ll make it to the hospital. There are so many unknowns! Even the gender reveal showing that our not-so-little-anymore grasshopper is a girl could be wrong! Our only son would be ecstatic if this turned out to be a boy. Bless it, he actually asked me if God could change it before the baby was born (seriously, guys, he cried when he saw the pink glitter explode above us)!
My nephews recently asked when the baby was going to be born, and all I could tell them was that I didn’t know (and that I was hoping for it to be soon!). It reminded me of the passage in Matthew 24:
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:36-44 (NIV)
No one knows… again: NO ONE KNOWS. This passage doesn’t describe the return of Jesus – or as some describe it, the end of times – with people living in fear because of a “pandemic” or because of wars. This passage describes everything being normal. People are getting married, working, eating and drinking, and going about their normal lives. They aren’t acting like doomsday-preppers, are they?
With this pregnancy, I’m not putting things on hold based on a prediction of when the baby is to be born, but instead am preparing as best I can. I want to be ready. I want to be ready for when our bundle of joy arrives. I also see the importance of being prepared for Jesus’ return. Similar to a birthing plan and what it can and cannot provide, there is one thing in particular we can make sure to have in order: our relationship with our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord.
While this is not my typical post – I’m not sure I’ve ever done an “alter call” (something people in church circles say) – this is something that I couldn’t get out of my head. I’ve been to churches that did what they could to scare people into salvation – if you don’t you’ll burn in hell! While what they say is true, it doesn’t accurately reflect the heart of God. God doesn’t want anyone to spend eternity in hell, but wants all to accept His free gift of salvation (I Timothy 2:3-4, II Peter 3:9).
You may think to yourself that you have to quit something before accepting this everlasting gift, but that’s like saying you have to be healthy before you can go to the doctor. You may be taking medications to help keep you from falling back on addictions, you may be struggling through your first few months of sobriety, you may be struggling with a pornography addiction, or you may be the picture of perfection in and out of church (still not good enough). But all of those things, seen and unseen, don’t stand between you and God’s outstretched arms. God didn’t die on the cross just for the sins of Christians, but for the sins of the whole world!
It is not our sins that will land us in hell, but our rejection of God’s gift of grace. People like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Ze Dong will not go to hell based on the atrocities they committed while on this earth, but based on whether or not they ever accepted the atoning sacrifice that was provided for the sins of the whole world.
Are you ready? Would you stake your eternity on how good you are? If you’ve never accepted God’s free gift of salvation, the paid-for-all-sins-in-full sacrifice Jesus gave His life for on the cross, I urge you to make the best decision of your life – for your life and your eternity. There’s not a magical prayer that has to be prayed a certain way or by a certain person – this is between you and God. Your prayer to accept this gift of salvation can be as simple as saying, “God, I accept your gift of grace. Thank you for giving me Jesus. Thank you for forgiving me.”
If you’re wanting more information about having a relationship with God, I invite you to comment below or, if you’d rather, you can email me: ohblessitgrace@gmail.com. While I’m ready for the return of Jesus, I do still have more to do in preparation for the arrival of our little one – but I want to hear from you. Meanwhile, I’ll be getting my hospital bag packed, car seat purchased, and will be walking on the beach (or more likely will be doing laps around Wal-Mart – hey, they have A/C).