God makes no mistakes

It's been a busy few days. On Tuesday of this week, Jen gave birth to our second child, Joshua Benjamin Carswell. He was born a healthy 8lbs 3oz, dark hair & a good set of lungs. Both Jen & Josh are doing well, and are due to leave hospital in the morning.

Back at home, Sam & I have been holding the fort. Poor boy hasn't known what's hit him. He's enjoyed (probably more like endured) a few days of dad looking after him, dressing, bathing, cooking etc & probably is ready for mum to be home. It's been good fun, though a surprisingly busy time.

In between hospital visits and all that needs to be done at home, I've been doing some thinking. Whilst preparing for Jen's elective C-section, we had the anesthetist come and share the various risks and procedures that would take place for Jen's operation. As we listened to the numerous possibilities of things that could go wrong, and all that they would to try to make things right should the need arise, it really hit home that we are all aware of the sanctity of human life. Sure, some people don't mind cutting short a life before a baby makes it out of the womb, and others like to cut short a life when it's out in the world, but generally speaking, we are all conscious of the specialness of human life. Our desire to preserve and prolong it is there. We really are "fearfully and wonderfully made" and I think we all know it. If you are in any doubt, I'd encourage you to visit our anesthetist as he described the wonder of the human body in responding to low blood pressure - "You get a light head, which is all part of the body's response to tell you to lie down."

As Joshua came on the scene and we got to hold him, hear him, love him and cherish him, again, I was intoxicated with the wonder of new life. As I tweeted elsewhere, maybe that's why Jesus says "You must be born again" and that we're told in Corinthians that "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come." I believe both of those, and have been reminded again of them, as I enjoy the delights of new life. As a Christian, the freshness and newness of new life is a wonderful part of our Good News message. Jesus came to bring life, and life in all its fullness - without Him, we have no life, as He is "the Life". He holds out the offer of new life, which brings a wonderful fresh start, a new beginning.

I've also been thinking about children, and all the joy & pain they bring us. It is no mistake that Jesus says "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. For the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Children are there for a purpose. God makes no mistakes in allowing children into our lives. He could have created us all as adults (think about it - he did that with Adam & Eve!), but instead chooses to bring us into the world as children, to teach us and train us, but also to teach and train us as adults. The simplicity of children, the innocence and love, all provide a vital illustration that remind us of the One who came into the world as a baby, who "grew in wisdom and stature and favour with God and people".

I make many mistakes, and repeatedly fail. God makes none. He never fails. I praise Him for the wonder of childbirth, the delights of new life, the innocence of children, and the lessons they teach me.  We're thankful to God for Josh's safe arrival & Jen's good health.  In so many ways, God has been good. What a wonderful God we have.