The awesome potential of an unborn child There’s a story that tells of a young woman, around 12 years old, who was expecting a baby. She wasn’t married when she conceived, which was a big deal at the time. She was engaged though, so I’m sure you can imagine how horrified her fiancé was to find out.
But someone had told that girl that she would get pregnant and that the baby would change the world. The WORLD. How crazy does that sound? But she believed them. And when someone told her husband-to-be that same thing, he believed it too. Eventually. And so - like any parents who are expecting a baby - they did what they could to prepare for their new child.
Now there’s a lot more to that story, but the point of this post is about the pregnancy itself. If you have ever been pregnant, you will probably remember that feeling of expectation and anticipation. The knowledge that you are carrying a small human with almost limitless potential. Will my son or daughter grow up to be a doctor, a teacher, an astronaut, a rock star? Will they save people’s lives as a firefighter or a peace envoy? Will they shape society with political success or ground-breaking research? Will people flock to hear their wisdom or celebrate them as amazing role models for generations to come? It could be any of those things, all of those things.
Now imagine if you knew. If someone had told you. Your baby will change the WORLD. “He will be a great man……and his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33).
If you are pregnant right now, or hoping to be someday – you too can share that feeling. Your unborn child can change the world. Because of you. Because of YOUR awesomeness. Because you will do whatever you can to keep your growing child safe. Because you will have FAITH in your body’s ability to nurture the beautiful life developing inside you. Because you believe.
Now we approach the time when we celebrate that child, the (self-fulfilling?) prophecy of that unborn baby’s future, the way that the story has affected the world for the last 2000 years; I wish for you and your family a peaceful time. A time to appreciate the things that this year has brought for you. A time to believe in the potential of new life and a shiny new year.
And for those of you who are without your family, those without their children and those still waiting for the miracle of a new baby, I wish you also the most gentle Christmas.
Love, Leila