The other morning I stopped by Walmart on my way to work. As I was waiting in the express checkout lane, I noticed a young lady in front of me, with only one item in her hand. I had seen her behind me as I entered the store, and it was obvious that she, like myself, had come this morning to purchase a specific item she needed.
But whereas my item was a container of milk for the refrigerator at work, her's was a pregnancy test.
I looked at her left hand, and saw no ring. Thus, even with the changing of some conventions in our culture, one must assume that she was not married. She was young, but not unduly so- certainly of age, an attractive adult woman.
As all these thoughts and images flashed through my mind, I attempted to gauge her emotional state, but was unable to ascertain any 'tells' that might give me a clue. She was, at least on the outside, quite calm and composed. And yet, I couldn't help but feel that her composure was in itself a 'tell'. In my experience, when a woman thinks she might be pregnant, it is not a feeling that lends itself to a state of equilibrium. There is usually either a sense of profound excitement at the possibilities, a profound sense of dread at the consequences, or a gut-wrenching stomachache at the reality of another test in a long, hitherto fruitless attempt to conceive.
None of these are terribly conducive to composure, so I assumed that she was hiding her feelings well. If I was asked to make a guess, I would have said that I felt her morning mission was one of dread, wondering if her recent adventures were about to reveal some life-changing results.
I looked down at my own ring, on my left hand, and reflected on how my own 3 children with Allison came to be. We married and, as previously agreed, waited three years before removing the barriers and trying to conceive our first child. Those were three years of delightful love and lust, enjoying each other as only a blessed married couple can. And then, after one heartbreaking miscarriage, God blessed us with three incredible boys. With each one, I can recall the emotions that accompanied the pregnancy test purchase, and it wasn't one of dread!
Without assuming a mantle of piousness, I think this reflects that there is wisdom in God's plan for human relationships. He bequeathed us with sex not only as a source of pleasure and an expression of love, but as a means to create new humans for Him to love and for us to love. We alone, among all of God's creatures both earthbound and heavenly, have the means to cause a new soul to enter in existence. It is an incredible responsibility and privilege, and not one to be taken lightly. And certainly not one to be dreaded! And God, in his infinite wisdom, designed a framework and structure for this that helps us to avoid that dread, shielded from the lies of Satan at these most momentous and intimate moments.
I find myself praying for that young woman. I hope that I was wrong about her emotions, and pray that our Father will touch her with His love and make her His own.
But whereas my item was a container of milk for the refrigerator at work, her's was a pregnancy test.
I looked at her left hand, and saw no ring. Thus, even with the changing of some conventions in our culture, one must assume that she was not married. She was young, but not unduly so- certainly of age, an attractive adult woman.
As all these thoughts and images flashed through my mind, I attempted to gauge her emotional state, but was unable to ascertain any 'tells' that might give me a clue. She was, at least on the outside, quite calm and composed. And yet, I couldn't help but feel that her composure was in itself a 'tell'. In my experience, when a woman thinks she might be pregnant, it is not a feeling that lends itself to a state of equilibrium. There is usually either a sense of profound excitement at the possibilities, a profound sense of dread at the consequences, or a gut-wrenching stomachache at the reality of another test in a long, hitherto fruitless attempt to conceive.
None of these are terribly conducive to composure, so I assumed that she was hiding her feelings well. If I was asked to make a guess, I would have said that I felt her morning mission was one of dread, wondering if her recent adventures were about to reveal some life-changing results.
I looked down at my own ring, on my left hand, and reflected on how my own 3 children with Allison came to be. We married and, as previously agreed, waited three years before removing the barriers and trying to conceive our first child. Those were three years of delightful love and lust, enjoying each other as only a blessed married couple can. And then, after one heartbreaking miscarriage, God blessed us with three incredible boys. With each one, I can recall the emotions that accompanied the pregnancy test purchase, and it wasn't one of dread!
Without assuming a mantle of piousness, I think this reflects that there is wisdom in God's plan for human relationships. He bequeathed us with sex not only as a source of pleasure and an expression of love, but as a means to create new humans for Him to love and for us to love. We alone, among all of God's creatures both earthbound and heavenly, have the means to cause a new soul to enter in existence. It is an incredible responsibility and privilege, and not one to be taken lightly. And certainly not one to be dreaded! And God, in his infinite wisdom, designed a framework and structure for this that helps us to avoid that dread, shielded from the lies of Satan at these most momentous and intimate moments.
I find myself praying for that young woman. I hope that I was wrong about her emotions, and pray that our Father will touch her with His love and make her His own.
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