Today is my son’s 28th birthday. Today I reminisced with him about the day of his labor and delivery. He was “high and posterior” and would not descend into the birth canal. Even though I was having severe labor pains, they still started me on a pitocin drip. The only thing the pitocin drip did was intensify my discomfort.
When the pitocin didn’t work, my doctor sent in another doctor to break my water. A problem ensued when the nurses didn’t check me for a little bit. Aaron had immediately dropped into the birthing canal and was ready to be born. I ended up having to pant for 25 minutes, waiting on the doctor to drive across town.
I teased Aaron that he just didn’t want to come into the world, but he finally did. He remarked, “Yeah, they didn’t give me a choice about it.” Funny how life is. Sometimes no matter how we try to avoid it, we are handed painful circumstances.
Aaron and I went on to discuss some painful personal issues that had occurred earlier in the week. What we both attempted to do was sort out the good things that happened as a result. Of course, it took several days to even begin to consider that there could possibly be any good that came of it.
Today when I saw the following quote, it brought home the reason for the pain. “Everything in your life is there as a vehicle for your transformation. Use it!” ~ Ram Dass
Everything in your life…I guess that even includes the painful circumstances. If I hadn’t endured the pain, I would never have my beautiful son today. If I hadn’t endured the pain of the recent circumstances, he and I would not have birthed the personal growth.
I don’t know about you, but I would do well to remember that everything in life happens for a reason. The bottom line is: look for the blessings, even in painful circumstances. Everything is a vehicle for our transformation.
