My body feels ready, my mind feels ready, my spirit feels ready and still there is nothing I can do to "make" it happen....He will enter the world, and our lives, at the perfect time.
-Krista Graves, May 30, 2007
-Krista Graves, May 30, 2007
A few weeks ago, I attended a celebration for Krista known as a Blessingway. Each woman presented her with a special bead, which Krista's mother Janice, strung into a necklace. We gave her our blessings and showered her with praises. All, well deserved.
In turn, we were given a red string to tie around our wrist or ankle which we will cut after she gives birth, to symbolize the cutting of the umbilical cord. We all went home that night with a tall blue candle to be lit as soon as Krista goes into labor. As I write this at 9pm on Sunday evening, my candle is still lit, burning since 2:30pm on Saturday. Which means that Krista is still in labor.
I'm feeling a bit sleepy and tired because I've been up since 3am after a rather restless night, due to the combination of excitement and a flickering candle light. I can only imagine how Krista and Matt, and those who are attending the birth with them, must be feeling.
The candle light has served multiple purposes. It has given me a way to stay connected to Krista and her birthing process. Each time the light woke me up, I sent well wishes to baby James, Krista and all who were gathered around her. Then I would turn on my side and fall asleep again, over and over. My way was easy.
Throughout the day, whenever I looked over at the candle, I felt a surge of appreciation for all of the friends and activities surrounding this pregnancy and birth. The candle has given me a renewed respect for ceremony and ritual. It also reminded me of something my son's preschool teacher taught me: every child has a flame inside him, his spirit, and you should never say or do anything that would diminish that flame.
That same reverence and care should be afforded to everyone (our selves included) and to the events that we feel helpless to control. As I look at the candle, I am reminded that to "go with the flow" often means that each journey may take longer than we expected. It is, what it is. No more, or less. The flame makes no judgement, it just lights the way.
In turn, we were given a red string to tie around our wrist or ankle which we will cut after she gives birth, to symbolize the cutting of the umbilical cord. We all went home that night with a tall blue candle to be lit as soon as Krista goes into labor. As I write this at 9pm on Sunday evening, my candle is still lit, burning since 2:30pm on Saturday. Which means that Krista is still in labor.
I'm feeling a bit sleepy and tired because I've been up since 3am after a rather restless night, due to the combination of excitement and a flickering candle light. I can only imagine how Krista and Matt, and those who are attending the birth with them, must be feeling.
The candle light has served multiple purposes. It has given me a way to stay connected to Krista and her birthing process. Each time the light woke me up, I sent well wishes to baby James, Krista and all who were gathered around her. Then I would turn on my side and fall asleep again, over and over. My way was easy.
Throughout the day, whenever I looked over at the candle, I felt a surge of appreciation for all of the friends and activities surrounding this pregnancy and birth. The candle has given me a renewed respect for ceremony and ritual. It also reminded me of something my son's preschool teacher taught me: every child has a flame inside him, his spirit, and you should never say or do anything that would diminish that flame.
That same reverence and care should be afforded to everyone (our selves included) and to the events that we feel helpless to control. As I look at the candle, I am reminded that to "go with the flow" often means that each journey may take longer than we expected. It is, what it is. No more, or less. The flame makes no judgement, it just lights the way.
Photo: Meteorry