Life Changed

After a much too long break from new submissions to Literary Corner, we have a special treat from a new author as another Ward has stepped up to demonstrate her excellent writing skills. Maureen (Ward) Nelson has taken up the pen to relate this short but heartfelt telling of an event that changed her life. Thank you so much Maureen!

Life Changed

by Maureen Nelson

I received the call that they had arrived.  I grabbed my keys and raced the long 10 mile stretch to the hospital, praying that I would make it in time.  As I drove, a mountain of worries floated through my brain-will my baby make it through the pain, will my grandbaby be ok, will I be able to handle what I am about to witness?

As my son-in-law paced the room, I tried to be like a mouse in the corner-there, but not.  The contractions were getting closer and stronger, still labor continued throughout the night.  Soon, the doctor calmly instructed to push.  I remember seeing the little tuft of dark hair emerging.  And as I stood next to my son-in-law, I thought “this is awesome and a little bit weird”!

As the sun began to rise, my baby gave birth to a teeny tiny, wrinkled, sticky, dark-haired, squealing, beautiful baby girl.  I didn’t shed a tear.  I just stared in awe at this perfectly formed miracle, my granddaughter.  As I turned to look at my baby, I had this wave of gratitude and pride wash over me.

I kissed my daughter as she held hers, I hugged my son-in-law and left them to be alone for the first time with their new little family of three.  I walked through the halls of the hospital, with the muted greens and blues, opened the door and walked out into the blaze of morning light.

As I sat in my car, I began to sob – big, gigantic ugly tears.  Tears of exhaustion, tears of protection, tears of overwhelming feelings of love.  I then looked up to Heaven and cried out “Lord, thank you, but now I have another person to worry about for the rest of my life!!!”.