Dear Wynn {Your Birth Story}


“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Romans 15:4

Dear Wynn,

I wanted to sit here tonight and write all of the details of the night you were born. I wanted to sit here with a cup of coffee and just write it all down.

But I could not.

I wanted to tell you that it rained that night. That my nurse’s name was Tracey. That she had shoulder length brown hair and the kind of peppy energy that made me sure she must have been a camp counselor at some point in her life. I wanted to tell you how I ate two chocolate easter eggs, even though I was only allowed popsicles. That it was dark that night. So dark and wet with spring rain. I wanted to write down how the pain was so strong that it was like being twisted in two. And finally, that after 24 hours of labor, you were entangled in the umbilical cord, that your life was threatened and that I nearly went mad with fear. Yes, I wanted to write all of this. Write how my tears felt running hot down into my ears and into my neck as I laid helpless and flat on my back in a hospital bed. How your heartbeat kept disapearing from that hospital monitor. How they put an oxygen mask over my nose and told me that I needed to remain calm and take deep breaths of air and how I couldn’t manage even that small task because my nose was completely congested with tears and fear and the shadow of a lurking grief.

Yes, I could have written these things for you, but I knew that my words were not enough. How can I write that the cord was wrapped twice around your neck? How can I tell you the way it felt when I first saw your face? Healthy and alive? That you knew me. That I called for you when they pulled you from me and that you knew me. Just look at your eyes in these pictures. It is all there.

Only His words will do. Mine could never do. These are the words I took into the delivery room with me that night and the words that filled my mind and narrated your birth. Remember these words, Wynn. And someday when I am gone, you will remember for us both the night in which we were one and then, by God’s glorious hand, you were drawn from me . . .

“But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

“For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—

. . .
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.


For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,

and my blessing on your descendants.


Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.
Isaiah 43-44

To God be all the glory. Forever and ever,

21 Comments

  1. Oh my goodness, Erin. I just did the “ugly cry” as I read this post, remembering the fear and wonder of my own delivery experiences. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story with us. What a wonderful legacy for Wynn to tuck away in his heart all the days of his life.

    Much love,
    Ginny

  2. Ohhhh, My Heart! This is a sweet and beautiful post. I have to tell you that I looked at the pictures before I read your story and I looked at the third picture and thought- He knows his Mommy. What a treasure that picture is.

    I also love the scripture. Who can say it better that God?
    Enjoy every minute of his growing up!
    Joyce

  3. Oh Erin. The beautiful things you write for your son bring tears to my eyes each time. I’ve mentioned before that I have 3 beautiful little boys and I distinctly remember when my first precious guys was born (by c-section as well, little guy wanted to come out upside down) he cried and I was crying and thinking over and over…he’s here. I can’t believe he’s here. Thank you God. “Children ARE a heritage from the Lord.” We are so blessed. God bless you, your baby son and baby’s daddy. 🙂

  4. What a beautiful, God-honoring story. Thank you, Erin, for sharing. And thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace.

  5. That picture of him looking at you….RIGHT into your eyes, like he’s loved you forever…that is AMAZING! Like the cover of Life magazine (if there was such a thing anymore) amazing.
    What a beautiful story.

  6. Brought tears to my eyes and stirred my heart. You did an absolutely beautiful job of telling Wynn his story.

  7. What a precious birth story you just wrote! I am due in December with our 3rd baby and I have never written their stories, maybe I will now that I have read yours.

  8. Erin, God has given you such a gift with words. This was so beautiful. I cried all the way through it.

  9. Erin… how so very sweet to share such a precious and intimate time with our Creator and Savior. Isaiah 43 is my daughter’s life scripture. She was adopted at 21 months and had mitichondrial disease. Her life… very life… is a living testimony to God’s mercy, presence, power, and LOVE! Those words are breath to me… May God continue to bless and walk with you and your precious family.
    Love, Dawn

  10. That one picture – the one Sarah mentioned – made me CRY and I didn’t know you… but I know that moment and it is SO beautiful. Congratulations!!

  11. This is absolutely beautiful. I have been reading through some of your old posts, and this is just too remarkable for me NOT to comment.

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