Almost every day the last month of the race, I volunteered at a free birthing clinic, Hope Alive, that services pregnant moms in the community with everything they need: weekly check-ups, vitamins, the actual birth, and post check-ups for the moms & their itty newborns. This clinic is just one of many ministries associated with Kids International Ministries (KIDS)*.
I can hear your thoughts now: “Grace… you + anything medical is usually a no-go. What the heck?” Yeah I thought those things too, which is exactly why I chose to help out at the clinic. The Lord told me to get out of my comfort zone and learn something new. So, I listened.
On our second night at KIDS, Vanessa (one of my squad-mates) and I were called back to the clinic because a mother was in labor. We took off running up the hill to the clinic. Personally, I was terrified – I didn’t know how much of the whole thing I would be able to handle, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t go.
The delivery only took a couple of hours. I didn’t stay in the room at all, but I was outside talking with the expected baby’s grandma while we waited. Occasionally I would step into the delivery room to see if the baby had come yet, but every time I would return to the waiting area: “No baby. Not yet.”
But then, we heard the tiniest cries. She was here!! I hopped back into the room and saw the tiny purple feet of baby girl as she rested on her mother’s chest. TEARS, y’all. I was in tears.
The atmosphere completely shifted. I was suddenly aware of how holy that moment was. I was standing in the center of a divine, appointed time. The Lord knew this little baby girl was going to be born at the exact moment she was. He knew that Vanessa and I were going to be in that room. Heaven and earth were aligned, according to His plan. I looked at this tiny human and saw a world of potential. I don’t know what’s inside her. What are her talents? Passions? Is she funny or serious? Artistic or logical? What…no, who will she become? But the Lord already knows – and looking down on her sweet face, I was overwhelmed by that simple fact.
I‘ve witnessed more births and touched way more pregnant bellies than I ever thought I’d be comfortable with just this past month alone. It’s really no secret that birthdays are my favorite, and the Lord took it NEXT LEVEL. Not only are birthdays another reason for me to throw a party, love my people, make them feel overwhelmingly special, and buy them things…but, birthdays are the specific day the Lord said “Let there be [YOU]” and here we all are! It’s INCREDIBLE. Our birthdays are no mistake.
Let me rephrase that – YOU are no mistake.
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UPDATE: I’M HOOOOME! It still feels so weird being in one place, not having any plans or timeline in getting to another. I unpacked my backpack and I never have to pack it up again – yay! 🙂 I only have one more blog left – you’ll be seeing it soon.
*more info on KIDS here: https://www.kidsim.org – it’s such an amazing ministry, check it out!
