Love

I just realized how long it's been since I've written. It's been an extremely busy week! Joel is helping his Dad out at the shop as he tries to get things ready for his upcoming absence (if he's able to have his knee surgery...he's sick right now, so we're not sure it will happen). I had my Tienda party last Thursday and raised $160 to send to the women in the Dominican Republic, which I was thrilled about. We also had a few women sign up for the "Army of 100" to commit to raising a mere $2 a week to purchase the building for the art co-op in the DR. Next Tuesday I'll have the opportunity to share the project with the women that come out to our women's group at church so that'll be great too. It's so nice to know you can really make a difference in someone's life, even from a world away!

I had a really exciting "God moment" the other day as I was driving home from a post-partum client's house. You know all the talk I've been spewing out about finding out where to focus my attention and my time...I know that my doula business is where God wants me to focus myself right now. It's been cool how this has been confirmed to me even just in the past week!! But on the way home the other day God spoke to me and showed me why He has me in this profession and it was amazing. My eyes literally welled up with tears as I was driving down the road (made it a little difficult to see for a bit), but I could hear His voice so clearly it was undeniable. When I went through the "Cure for the Common Life" book, I realized that I have always been a nurturer since birth. I was always playing with dolls and was the little mommy. I loved to babysit, and being a camp counselor was the greatest job I did as a teen. My doula job is entirely about nurturing. Nurturing women in labour, nurturing their husbands through the experience, nurturing the babies once they arrive. I absolutely thrive on comforting women in labour. I love hearing afterwards about how something I did for them during labour was exactly what they needed (even though they never asked me for it). I really feel that God has blessed me with a gift for tuning into the woman and knowing what she needs, I LOVE that. I don't believe that I have this ability on my own, I truly believe that God has blessed me with this ability.

So anyway, as I was driving down the highway, I heard God telling me that LOVING these women through their labours was what He has given me to do. During births I am always in prayer for the women. Not necessarily out loud (since not everyone I work with necessarily believes in God and I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable), but that doesn't mean that I can't be praying in my mind for the woman and her baby. A recent client of mine who had a very challenging birth mentioned that she could feel the presence of God with her the entire time, that she always felt safe. Incredible. Even when things don't work out the way a woman hopes or expects them to in labour, she can still feel safe, and come out of the experience with a positive mindset.

Our most important calling is first to love God, then to love others. Being a doula is truly an opportunity to serve others in love. The word Doula after all means "female servant" and if the King of the universe would come to earth and wash men's feet, surely I can give a foot massage to a woman who is tense, or hold a bucket for a woman who is throwing up and wants to give up on the labour she is immersed in. I have the privilege of whispering words of encouragement, of reminding her of the prize that she will soon be holding in her arms and inhaling with all of her senses. It truly is the greatest profession, and I sure don't do it for the money ;)

Melanie