Cherries

By Jeanice McDade

“For this child I prayed,
and the Lord has granted
me my petition which I
asked of Him.
1 Samuel 1:27

s she dresses in front of the bathroom mirror, she ponders the phrase "Life is a bowl of cherries". She chuckles as she rubs her midsection, wondering if “this” is the round cherry part or if there is more meaning to the saying.

It’s almost time for the birth of her first child. As clearly as she sees her reflection in the mirror, she remembers praying for this child. Four and a half years into marriage is quite a while some might think, but priority was given to getting her spouse through law school. 6 months of law school to go and the baby is nearly ready to make her appearance.

How thankful she is to be a mother. What a wonderful gift and awesome responsibility. The doctor had told her that she would need fertility drugs to conceive. Now, without the drugs, at the age of 27, she was ready to be a mother. Having been raised in a Christian home, she was taught the importance of prayer.

There is great peace when important things are left in the hands of God. She remembers her grandfather, a first generation Christian and the Pastor of her Church, and how he would pray long into the night for other people. She wanted to be the kind of person who cared for others as well.

But for now, she has to put the reflections aside and head to work. It’s an early day at the Stop ‘N Go store that she manages, today is stock day and the truck is expected to arrive by 6 a.m. Never a morning person, Terri, is rushing around to make it to the store in time to greet the truck.

At the end of the day, all missions accomplished, Terri is grateful that tomorrow is her day off. She buckles her seat belt and begins the journey home as she wonders if this will be the last truck she unloads while she is pregnant. The baby is due next week and Terri thought it feasible to continue working as long as she could, perhaps that would quiet some of the anxious, excited “come, baby, come!” feelings she has had lately.

“Push, Terri, Push!” the doctor instructs her. “Ah, your boy comes at last”, says the nurse as she lays the newborn son on Terri’s chest. “Who would have thought that I’d have 4 kids in 6 1⁄2 years?”, exclaims a tearful Terri. “Yes, Yes, Yeeeeeesssssssssssss, a boy, a boy, finally a boy! Lalalalalala!” her husband says as he hops around the room.

“Life is certainly precious”, says Terri as she holds her newborn son. "Everyday is a gift but everyday that can be shared with a loved one is most precious indeed."