Perhaps tonight

A good friend is waiting with anticipation for the arrival of her new baby. She is 3 days overdue. I am thinking once again about creation groaning - waiting the coming day when Jesus will return and make all things new.


The thought of the coming birth of her daughter is consuming the thoughts of my friend. Every morning since the two week window she has woken up with the thought, "perhaps today..." Every afternoon, she has prepared her home for the new child. "Perhaps this evening..." And every night before bed, she has checked to make sure everything was in order in case she got woken up in the middle of the night. "Perhaps tonight..."

She is ready for the birth of her child. Her body is aching, and she can't sleep. She can no longer touch her toes, push a vacuum, hold her other children. Her home is prepared. Contractions come and go - powerful and painful reminders of the change that will inevitably come very soon. Yet each minute drags on as her baby takes her sweet time.

The baby might come tonight. And my friend is ready.

Jesus might come tonight. Am I ready?