My inspiration today...

A missed lunch.

My time spent labor watching and supporting an active first-time mom.

Momma tired from a long night of no sleep the day before and vomiting.

Simple words and gestures given...

Rubbing her back during a contraction, giving her water, telling her "you are strong...you are amazing".

From 4 cm dilated to 8 cm in seven hours.

Amazing strength and pain tolerance despite her exhaustion.

But wait, it gets better.

Side note: I love my 'job'...yes being 'with a woman' throughout her pregnancy, labor and delivery pulls & tugs at me on all levels (physically, emotionally, spiritually)...I feel so privileged to be attaining this knowledge. And more times than not, my pregnant momma is the teacher. :)

So, how could the strength of a momma in labor get better?

On my mind- when life isn't rosy

Living in a foreign country or place changes you—or at least it should.

I know it changed me before and is changing me now. My farming community suburbia of Lancaster, PA has rudely shifted to the gray shades of cement, homes behinds walls/barbed with the bustle & noise of an almost sleepless city.

~(a few times) I came home from a clinic shift at 6:30 am to encounter a man sleeping on our apartment steps. It had rained quite hard during the night, and I'm sure the covered open garage-like structure of the apartment complex kept the rain off him. Did I wake him up, invite him in for a meal or wake him up and tell him to leave? Well, neither...I actually didn't quite know what to do, I turned the key quietly, glanced nervously at him, gently stepped over him and closed the door.~

Work in progress

Chorus:

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

Repeat Chorus

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part
But I'll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands

Repeat Chorus

In the mirror of His word
Reflections that I see
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the potter; I'm the clay

Do you know this song?!?...well right now it could be my life motto...