It was a moment of exceeding joy that surpassed even my own expectations.
The long-awaited birth of a friend's baby girl had arrived. Her mother had suffered a difficult pregnancy, producing many scares along the way. Along with hundreds of other women I prayed for this woman and her baby every time they came to mind, which turned out to be quite often. The more I prayed, the more I loved and the more this mother's goal became my own. And when her daughter arrived, her great happiness was also mine. But not in a general sort of way. This was a very real joy experienced so deeply that when I heard the good news I gathered my daughters, fell on my knees and praised and thanked the Lord, joyful tears streaming down my face. I came to a striking realization in that instant, a moment of gladness I'd experienced many times for other women.
It is enough.An excerpt from a quick note to my friend just after I'd heard the news:
~I realized at this very moment that I don't need another baby to feel fulfilled - I want one, don't get me wrong - but my happiness for you and for many other expecting friends, who love and nurture their babies toward heaven, is enough. It is enough. God is so very good to me in revealing His way for me through my friends.~Like a child I want my piece of candy, and I want it now. But my good and wise father sees that it is not good for me, and he holds back...."Not until after dinner, my daughter. You must have the substance of meat first, and the taste of bitter vegetable....before your reward." Wow. It took me thirty-five years to learn something so basic and so true. Perhaps the most important part of this life-long lesson though is realizing the reward I seek may take a lifetime-lived to come, but in the meantime, I am rewarded abundantly along the way. For is there no joy in seeing my sister have her candy before I taste my own? Of course there is....and
it is enough.
~It seems so obvious that our Father in heaven, who is not only good and wise but All-Good and All-Knowing, gives us what we need - no more, no less - for perfect happiness later, yes, but also for grateful contentment now. Joy now. Peace now. If we only delight in the good of our neighbor as though it is our own. Because it is indeed our own good, and we ought to take joy in it. Not doing so is a waste of our capacity to love and to thank the Divine Giver, who gives equally to all persons his or her own Way. Not rejoicing in every good that befalls our neighbor is the same as being ungrateful for our own gifts.
~I anticipate having to learn and re-learn this lesson again and again in this life. I am still a child and my Father still reprimands, "Not until after dinner....". I do hope for another child and I believe I'll be given one. Not today. Today a baby in my own arms is not good for me. But deep joy for a friend who has been blessed
is good for me. Because it is my Way, and
it is enough.
~
