THE BUMPY JOURNEY

My month by month bumpy shots :)

Well, it ’s taken me few days, on and off to compile all my bump shots, and considering I have a little gentleman who loves to snuggle, I’d say I’m finally here to post my story. It’s crazy looking back at my belly month by month and realizing that was our little Jaden growing in there. It boggles my mind how life can grow inside a belly so small. The Creator is excellent at His creation!

I’m so glad I have this to look back at one day and show Jaden these (if he’s interested). Of course, he will have to listen to his mom's 11-hour labor story for the rest of his life :)

Like few mothers, I was dreading about the labor pain that I had heard about. I always used to think what if I die during the labor? Who will look after the baby and all kinds of questions kept popping in my mind? Until one night I dreamt like someone was telling me, "Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.". When I woke up, I googled and found out that it's from Isaiah 41:10. And that week, dad also spoke about this verse in a random sermon. Later, I saw this verse on someone's facebook wall. It was like a confirmation that God was saying, I am with you. So I decided that I will embrace every uncomfortable position, every heartburn, every contraction, every hip pain, back pain, all the tossing and turnings, sleepless nights and all that comes with being pregnant. As it is worth it!

As I type, I am reminded of all women who would give the world to be in my place. Who perhaps couldn't get to full term, who maybe haven't been able to get pregnant, who are aching at every pregnancy photo they see. THIS IS FOR YOU:

“SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN A DARK PLACE, YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN BURIED, BUT ACTUALLY YOU HAVE BEEN PLANTED.”

Although I had a very hard journey of conceiving and super painful labor, God was with me throughout this journey. God wanted me to go through this to encourage someone going through a similar bumpy journey as mine. Like I always say, His promise still stands!

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BARREN TO BLESSED

Barren women they muttered her name

Depressed and hurt she lived in shame

Her rival provoked her till she cried

Pain and disgrace she could not hide

Her neighbors asked her, "What was wrong?

To have a baby, does it take that long?"

Who is this living God you talk about?

Her faith in Him they made her doubt

She woke up each night and bitterly wept
Her husband consoled her as she slept

In deep anguish she couldn't eat or drink

Her misery was all that she could think

In despair she cried out and prayed,

"God, to your work this child I trade"

She poured out her heart in tears

There on the alter she laid her fears

God stooped down from heaven and heard her cry

He said, "My promise to you I will not defy"

"She's Hannah", the blessed women they say

"She's you! cause your Samuel is on the way"

- Grace Xavier

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7 WAYS BARRENNESS ENDED

Couple of months ago, I met few old friends and we were discussing about marriage, life and kids. The ones with kids showed all the pictures and were talking so much about how naughty and cute they are. One of the girls sat so quite during the whole conversation. The CID that I am, I kept noticing her. She rather dint have anything much to say. Someone suddenly asked her, “How many kids do you have”. She said “none”. Immediately another one asked, “How long have you been married?” She said “Seven years”. The Indians that we are, we are so curious about others life. Another asked “Aren’t you trying? She sadly said we tried everything we could, we have a major infertility issue which can’t be solved”.

There was an awkward silence. My heart sunk! I wish I could say something to comfort her. I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to cry for her. I said, “Lord, please have mercy on her”. I wish she was a Christian. I wish she read the Bible.

After this incident, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started studying on barrenness. Can God heal barrenness? Of course, He can. He is the one who opens the wombs and closes them. Nothing is impossible for Him. Here are few encouraging verses of how God restored barrenness in the Bible.

1. When the Lord remembers

And the LORD remembered Hannah. So in the course of time she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
1 Samuel 1:20

Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.
Genesis 30:22

2. When the Lord is gracious

And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters.
1 Samuel 2:21

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
Genesis 21: 1-2

3. When you pray on behalf of someone

Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant and gave birth to TWINS.
Genesis 25:21/24

But the angel said to Zechariah: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
Luke 1:13

4. When God promises

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
Genesis 21: 1-2

You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle.
Deuteronomy 7:14

There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
Exodus 23:26

5. When God shows His favor

The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Luke 1:25

6. When you believe

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nation
Romans 4:18

7. When you worship God

Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
1 Samuel 1:19, 20

Would you still keep trusting - hoping - believing against all hopes?

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