A bow of promise When we were preparing the nursery for our second daughter, we chose fabric for the curtains and a chair with rainbows on it. When she was born she was affectionately called the 'rainbow baby'!
The chair was well used but then was stored in the attic for about thirty years. When her first little boy was born two and a half years ago it was cleaned up and used again in his room. However when we looked at it about six months ago we decided that it needed to be re upholstered ready for the arrival of their second baby. I have to say that I did smile when our daughter showed me the fabric she had chosen which was covered in doves holding olive leaves and while I was working on the renovations I often thought about the Bible story of Noah's Ark that is told in Genesis. The reference about 'the bow' - the rainbow being the visual the promise between God and man is one I have always loved.
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh;
and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth
In Science and Health one of the words Mrs. Eddy gives in her spiritual definition of ARK is 'safety' and her definition of DOVE is 'A symbol of Divine Science; purity and peace; hope and faith.' What inspiring words to link with a nursery for a newborn. - a safe place of purity and peace!
Last week, as our daughter's due date came and went the temptation to doubt God's plan for this event was some days quite powerful. I was ready to go and look after their little boy and I had 'planned' all the necessary practicalities possible! However I soon realized that I needed to pray more deeply to know that God's plan was the only plan and no more concern needed to be given to any calendar dates and predictions.
A verse in Psalms was especially reassuring:
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: (Psalms 138:8)
So...everything that concerneth me was perfected by our Father Mother, God. Mrs Eddy's hymns are often 'turn to' prayers for me and in my daily study hymn 149 gave much comfort about the forthcoming birth.
Love divine all earth-born fear and sorrow
Fade as the dark when dawn pours forth her light;
And understanding prayer is fully answered,
When trustingly we turn to God aright.
And as on wings of faith we soar and worship,
Held by God's love above the shadows dim,
Hushed in the grandeur of a heart's awakening,
Unfolds a joy unknown till found in Him.
Then in this radiant light of adoration,
We know that man beloved is in God's care,
Not wrapt in fear nor bowed with tired labor,
But satisfied, complete, divinely fair.
The hospital felt that the birth needed to be induced so driving up on the morning when she needed to go in I prayed to acknowledge that 'in beauty, grandeur, order, His handiwork is shown' (Hymn 329)
The arrival of a new baby is always beautiful and I could completely trust in God's plan, in His grand order of the day ahead.
The afternoon was dry, sunny and bright and my little grandson and I had a wonderful walk in the woods hiding hazelnuts for the birds and wild animals! He was so engrossed in this activity so I was able to have quiet moments to continue affirming God's Love and protection and I felt completely calm and confident that all was well.
Driving home through the beautiful countryside we came round a corner close to the village where they live and there in the sky was one of the brightest rainbows I have ever seen! An amazing and totally unexpected sight as there had been absolutely no rain at all.
I have to say that I was utterly in awe of this incredible visual and symbolic angel message. Only God could send a rainbow promise in this way! I knew at that very moment His Love was like a protective arch over all of the family, wherever they were and whatever they were experiencing - what a promise!
When we got home and had had tea my son in law called to say that a perfect little baby boy had been born. He went on to explain that the labour had progressed much faster than is usual and the baby's heartbeat was showing alarming distress so an emergency Caesarean had been necessary. This had taken place about an hour earlier, about the 'rainbow moment' I realised.
Over this nine months, as an expectant Granny, I have learned so much more about trusting in God's plan and not in restricting human plans, especially my own! This experience has so clearly shown me that we all live in the ark of 'safety' surrounded by the gentleness and comfort of the dove's 'purity and peace' with the 'bow of promise' over us.
To say my heart was filled with gratitude is an understatement; even bursting with gratitude isn't really how I felt after such a profound experience!