Precious Little One

I missed the text. It came own before I awoke. Therefore, my son called five minutes later. That woke me. We got the call that our DIL was in labor. We quickly finished loading the Crosstrek. Within a few minutes, we were on the road.

BUT IT DIDN’T MATTER!

Within the next 60 minutes, she had the baby. And she has a story she will tell (and has told) over and over. Here’s the quick version …

She awoke around 3:30am her time. Contractions were coming quickly. They were on the phone with the midwife, and she was informed she would not make it in time. However, the photographer did make it in time – can’t have a baby without a photographer..

My son filled the tub in their home. (They wouldn’t make the birthing center in time either!) And sure enough, they were going to have a genuine home birth. Into the tub – and push. And she only had to push once. PUSH and pop … out comes our new grandson.

We were one hour into ur 19 hour trek. We would make it in the wee hours of the next day, and will make it before our grandson turns one day old.

Joseph – God adds, increase (recognizing where the blessing is truly from)
Carter – Our DIL’s maternal family name (showing respect and honor to her Mother’s family)

As I write this week, I ponder many issues … and today, I ponder missing out. I miss out on so many things in life. Sometimes I miss because circumstances delay me, situations become unavoidable obstacles, or timings just are too precarious to come together at the exact moment needed. These things are out of our control.

But sometimes, it’s choices. Choices we make that cause us to miss out. We choose certain paths that mean we might be delayed, might be in the wrong place, or might be disqualified for the blessing.

In the 2004 Olympics, Matthew Emmons had one shot left to secure his second gold medal. But an error happened – he shot at the wrong target and received a score of ZERO. His choice was an error that cost him the honor of international achievement.

Have I made wrong decisions? Sure. Have you? I truly believe yo have too. But the beauty of God’s grace and mercy is that even if you miss out on something, even as a result of a bad choice … God’s steadfast love is fresh every morning. Nothing will separate God from His children – nothing. You missed out on something today – tomorrow is a new day. And every new day brings new mercies.

One last word … I challenge you to not to miss out on His love.