Ordinary Miracles

I remember years ago the movie "Charlotte's Webb" was released and it had a theme song called, "Ordinary Miracles" by Sarah McLachlin.  The term "Ordinary Miracles" is amazing when you really meditate on it.  What is an ordinary miracle?  What does that mean because let's face it, there's nothing ordinary about miracles. It is a miracle that we see every day. We see them so much that we may forget its a miracle or may not realize its a miracle.  As a result, we can take them for granted.  We can take them for granted so much that we forget to see the beauty in them.  Rain falling from the sky, the sun rising and setting, you breathing in and out, a flower blooming, etc.  One of the most beautiful "ordinary miracles" is the birth of a child and all that took place for that to happen.  Think about it.  You start off with an egg and a sperm and end up with a human being who can think, reason, and feel emotions. I once heard that to give birth to a healthy child with no complications is a miracle in itself.  So much can go wrong.  So much has to be exactly right in order for a healthy child to be born alive.  I'm no doctor, but think about the processes that take place in the body.  Hormones is just one aspect.  Hormones being off balance can cause you to miscarry your child or even can prevent you from becoming pregnant in the first place.  From conception to birth is a miracle.  Don't take the ability to have and to carry a child for granted.  It is a miracle. 

When I grew up, I grew up with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I watched and saw how things were.  I saw a couple get married and then have a child.  In my family, everyone has at least 2 kids.  I was never introduced to the fact of some women's struggle with conception or inability to conceive.  It wasn't until my last job that I was exposed to this reality and how common it was.  I met many women who struggled with fertility for years until they finally conceived and others never did conceive.  I think its way more common than we know.  Its just not talked about.  Women just don't walk to every person they know and say, "Hey, I had another miscarriage.  That makes six this year."  First of all, that statement isn't easy to make.  Even though the woman never met the child, that was her child.  She loves that child from the moment she discovers she's pregnant with that child.

I have been tremendously blessed and its not because I'm better than anyone.  I don't know why I've had no issues and others have struggled.  I've been pregnant 3 times and I have 3 healthy children.  There are some women like me who grew up longing for the time they would be "mom."  They get married, have a stable home, and start trying to conceive, but they can't or they do but lose the child.  We have to realize what a miracle it is to be able to conceive and give birth to a healthy child.  Lets never take it for granted.  Realize what a miracle you have.  When you give birth and hold that precious child in your arms, don't take that granted.  That baby IS a miracle.  A miracle took place in your body.  Love and cherish that beautiful miracle.