thoughts of the impending D-day

As "Delivery-Day" draws closer (maybe even today?) I find myself thinking more and more about the what-ifs of labor and delivery. Part of that brings up some rather strange thoughts and emotions that Mike has to deal with when we're laying in bed and I turn to him and say "if I die during childbirth promise me that you won't give Maggie away." He was rightfully offended that I would even think he would give our daughter away for someone else to raise... but... when you're pregnant, I guess you don't think logically. And I've never been accused of being the most logical person on the planet, either. The poor guy has put up with a lot.

At any rate, being a control freak by nature and knowing maybe too much about the possibilities of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and what could go wrong... it's not a good combination.

So recently I was praying through my Bible reading and asking God for some wisdom, direction, and comfort for these crazy worries. (I feel really dumb even admitting this in public!) I've been asking Him to lead me through labor and delivery in a way that brings the most glory to God - that "whatever I do...even in labor!...do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

And He brings comfort in Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 38:16-20.

Oh Lord... restore me to health and make me live.
Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
For Sheol does not thank you, death does not praise you, those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.
The living, the living, HE thanks you, as I do this day,
the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.
The Lord will save me,
and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.

Another comfort from John 16:21:

"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."

Maybe you're not dealing with the same illogical worries, but isn't it comforting and courage-building to know that our Father in heaven is good, that all He does is good, and that He can be trusted?