Apples and Tomatoes

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There is a gentleman at our church who has one consistent comment throughout the end of my pregnancy. Most of the time when men make pregnancy comments I don't listen. They haven't been there, they don't know and they are trying to be funny. But this time I'm listening. He's been saying "When the apple is ripe it will fall from the tree." At first I was peeved that he would say something like that or just that he would say anything at all, but you know what, he's right.

I constantly am picking tomatoes too early. Then I have to wait for them to ripen on their own. If I would wait until they get completely ripe on the vine the produce would be so much better. The same is true with this child. God knows when this babe is done and ready to come out. I don't. If it were up to me I would have had him three weeks ago. Who knows what other sorts of development is happening at this late stage? I sure don't, but the Lord does. He knows the best time. At our wedding one of the songs sang was In His Time. We had that sang as a tribute that this was the beautiful thing the Lord had been working on all along. I had not dated at all, Andrew had had some less than ideal girlfriends and we both came into our dating relationship thinking we'd never get married. When all along God had something beautiful in mind. We just had to wait. And it is beautiful. God has something beautiful in mind with this child, I/we just have to wait. Besides it's all for His glory anyway, isn't it? This child is for His purpose and glory and a blessing to us, I cannot demand a blessing. Demands never get anywhere anyway. I can ask. I can always ask, and trust me I have! So I can either wait patiently, without grumbling or complaining, or I can wait moaning and groaning, making life more difficult for me and everyone else around me. Hmm, I think I know what I should do.

The Lord is good, gracious and understanding. He knows the swirl of hormones in my body that made dealing with emotions worse. Not only am I impatient, but I am negative. I get sarcastic. That doesn't put anyone in a good mood. About a month or so ago, my dear hubby preached from Philippians. It is such a good reminder of our behavior in Christ. It is so hard some days to have the right additude, especially when you are constantly reminded of something not having happened yet. Sometimes it is every moment I have to catch my thoughts and turn them over. I am resolving to think positively and to speak positively. Negativity begets negativity. I am looking to reverse that.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9

This is the way to peace! Prayer, discipline and meditation in the word. The Lord was just telling me all along I needed to be more in the word, He was again using a different way to draw me to Himself. And all of this so I can be one of His shining stars.

One day at a time...