Café Menu for Saturday, September 3, 2011
Today’s Special is: Learning to focus on God’s love in all things
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Karen Dawkins.
Main Ingredient: “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you”. (Proverbs 4:25)
Entrée:
After nine long months, it was time to meet our new baby. I pushed and pushed and pushed, for an hour and a half. Our baby was stuck! The doctor couldn’t get him out and he couldn’t push him back.
My husband is a family physician. He’s delivered babies. And he’s been in the delivery room when things go wrong. Our baby was not coming into the world easily. With every contraction his heart rate plummeted. My husband knew our baby was in danger. Calmly, he pressed his forehead against mine, spoke low and soft, “I love you. Do you know how much I love you? Now, when the doctor says push, you push. Got it?” He never moved away. He stayed right there, eyes focused on mine, and kept telling me, “I love you.” Over and over. As I pushed. Naive. Safe in his love.
Eventually, our little guy made it through, his head swollen, smooshed, and twisted like a corkscrew, his face bruised. It was love at first sight anyway. How could a mama not love her baby boy?
I learned many months later that my husband, his mom (a nurse) and our son’s doctor were concerned about his development due to the trauma he endured. His heart rate should never have dipped so low for so long. His sweet brain should not have endured the punishment it took. Yet, he’s okay… now, a senior in high school about to embark on his own life.
I look back on that time and realize my husband’s sacrifice to get me through. He knew the danger, but he swallowed his fear and focused on what was best in the moment, getting us through serious complications. He stifled his pain and kept me focused on one thing: love.
Today, the memory of my husband’s forehead pressed against mine — giving me everything he had — reminds me of God’s love for me. God is there, pressed in giving me everything he has to get me through tough moments. He just wants me to press back, focused on His love. Never wavering. Never losing focus.
Take Out: Do you face fear and uncertainty? Change your focus. Fix your gaze on God, not on the troubles of this world. He wants only the best for you. He loves you.
Dessert: Dear God, Thank you for your love. No matter what we face: health problems, financial stress, hunger, fear, or loneliness, You are there. When we press in to You, fill us with your love. Forgive us for our doubts and fears and replace them with your hope and love. Thank you, Father God. We focus on You in Jesus’ name, Amen
**For more encouragement, please visit Karen’s website.
© 2011 by Karen Dawkins. All rights reserved.
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:34 pm
What a sweet story of a husband’s love. Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad you introduced me to this blog.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
Shari,
Thank you for stopping by. Yes, he is a wonderful husband!!!!
And a great dad!!!
Thanks for visiting.
Love,
Karen
September 6th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Karen, this is such a lovely post. I can just see the love of your husband zeroing in on you and what needed to be done! Thanks for sharing! I know our Father in Heaven loves us!
September 10th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Thank you, Becky. God knew I needed strong, emotional connections to grow in love with Him the way He means it to be. This is one of the most precious memories of my whole life. Having a husband who leads by sacrifice sure helps the whole family learn to serve and love and trust God!