It’s time! Sarah had some major contractions at around 9pm and here we are in the labor and delivery ward at 2:30 am. There’s so much going on, and a flood of biblical imageries immediately come to mind.

At 8:01 am, July 16, 2011, Benjamin Titus Lee, the third of the Mitchketeers, was born to the Lee family tribe! Baby and mom are doing well, and we are so grateful for the gift that is our third son!

A couple of thoughts:
1. The story of Genesis is real. As Sarah was languishing in pain, all I could think of was the effects of the curse (Gen 3)- increased pain in childbearing/rearing and increased frustration in work. God’s pronouncements are true.

2. Love conquers all. Despite the pain in labor, Sarah was a super-trooper, enduring such pain to literally push through to the other side. It reminded me of the surpassing power of love, and then I began to think about the extraordinary ways in which God loved not just me, but the entire man race. The extraordinary lengths and painstaking ways in which God orchestrated, initiated, and authored salvation. He loved us and redeemed us from the Fall, and no matter what effects, he is working now to reverse them!

3. Through richer or poorer, sickness and in health… As I held Sarah during her most vigorous contractions and embraced her during the pushing, I was struck by the picture of our unity as husband and wife. She is the mother of my children and my life partner. As she cried in pain, I vowed again that there was no place I’d rather be than holding my bride, keeping her safe, and reminding her that I am present and with her. This is the beauty and mystery of marriage, and I experienced it in power this morning.

4. Presumption is the enemy of contentment. We decided to be surprised again with the gender of Benjamin. I’d be lying if I said we weren’t hoping for a girl. As the weeks went on, and the prayers continued, we were so sure that God would give us a girl. After all, Calvin prayed for a sister so that guarantees it, right? As I recall Benjamin’s time in the womb, I can see how much contentment has been a theme of his life. We weren’t expecting this pregnancy. We weren’t expecting a boy. We weren’t expecting the baby to come early (well kind of). Through Benjamin’s short life, God has exposed the ways in which we presume about the way things ought to be in our lives. Such presumption made it harder to be content with the way things are. As we fought and continue to fight for contentment, we are overwhelmed by the goodness of God to know what we need when we need it. He really is good despite all of our presumptions to know what is good for ourselves.

There is so much more that I could write, but I’ll choose to pause there for now. I want to spend some time being with my warrior of a wife and treasure of a baby boy.

By the way, we named him Benjamin because Jacob’s youngest son was Benjamin, and he was treasured. In fact, the name means, “son of my right hand”. He is indeed so beautiful and we are indeed so content in God’s goodness!