I Remember...

I remember…

waking often in the night

feeling our baby move inside me;

kicks, flutters,

hiccups.

I remember…

pacing, trying to walk off

the aching in my back,

hoping my leg would not give out.

I remember…

people,

even strangers,

asking when my baby was due,

some with a countenance reflecting

tender reminiscence,

others with wistful longing.

I remember…

the pangs of labor,

gauging the length of time

between one wrenching spasm

and the next,

for what seemed like an eternity.

I remember…

breathing through the intensity

of each tremor,

anticipating the next

with foreboding,

yet focusing only on the moment.

I remember…

desperately crying out to my husband,

“I can’t do this anymore!”

as he patiently held my hand

and offered his strength to me.

I remember…

hearing our child’s first tiny cry,

feeling the release of tears

flow unhindered down my face,

seeing my husband

laughing and crying

with joy.

I remember…

holding our little one,

looking into eyes that returned my gaze,

pondering, whispering, speaking

our child’s name,  

the name which was already chosen.

I remember…

wondering what this child’s future would hold,

curious,

yet content to trust

without knowing.

I remember…

praising God

for His gift of mercy to me,

for new life,

for family,

for the future.

I remember…

the gentle murmuring voices

of those surrounding me,

waxing and waning

from my awareness;

my weariness overwhelmed

by joy.

“Mary treasured all these things, 

pondering them in her heart.”  ~Luke 2:19