And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” —Luke 2:7 NKJV

The first time I ever held a baby came in the middle of a brief stint in nursing school. I was handed a tiny newborn with tubes coming out everywhere and was expected to take care of him. Prior to that, being raised “old school,” I had never even been in the same room with a baby, much less held one. I was only allowed to peek into a darkened room from the doorway to see a tiny bundle of blankets lying in a crib. Now, here I was, a student nurse, totally clueless and absolutely scared to death. The baby’s mama was scared too when she saw my face! I was quickly relieved of my assignment and sent elsewhere.

On June 11, 1980, at 5:30 pm, at the end of thirty-something hours of labor and nine months of anticipation, a new little life rested in my arms. I was just as scared as I had been when I held that other baby, but this time it was different! This was not someone else’s little one. It was ours! Out of the love of Ralph and me for each other, a piece of each of us joined together to become one new little life, part of us but separate from us. She was her own person, unique and special. And beautiful!! (She still is!)

It’s an indescribable experience to hold a new life and look into eyes that do not yet see much. To feel the softness of newborn skin. To smell sweet baby hair. To hear the first “laaa, laaa, laaa” cries. To feel the weight of a little warm bundle on the shoulder. To realize: This is life! This is our child!

For the longest time after her arrival, I would just stare into her face and watch her. I’d sneak into her room and stand at her crib just to watch her chest rise and fall with each breath of deep baby sleep. I’d watch her stretch and give little twitches, sighs, and yawns. I’d stand there in the quiet and marvel. How can this be?! How can it be that I am entrusted with this precious child? Her whole life was ahead of us, and we had no clue who she would become, what she’d be called to do, where she’d be led to travel, what she would experience in life. And yet, we had the privilege of being a part of it!

Two thousand and twenty-something years ago, another new, young mama held her baby for the first time. Except that He wasn’t her baby. Not really. He would never be hers to keep. She carried Him. She raised Him. She loved Him. But He came, not to be one mother’s baby, but to be Savior of the World.

What was it like for her? What was it like to nurse Him and diaper His little bottom one day and call Him Lord on another day? What was it like to kiss a boo-boo and bandage a wound one afternoon and helplessly watch deadly piercings on another afternoon? What was it like to hear the sounds of happy little feet running around, only to watch Him, as a man, walk a long dusty road that led to His reason for coming to earth? What was it like to have kings kneel before His manger only to hear a jeering crowd later on? What was it like to watch a little boy full of energy wrestling and playing with His brothers one day and dying for them on another day? What was it like to set out bread for her Son at one meal only to have Him become her Bread of Life for the rest of her life? What was it like to lay her newborn in a stone trough in someone else’s stall one evening and then later watch Him hang from a wooden cross on a distant hillside? What was it like to sit and hold her newborn Child as He took His first earthly breaths—and then to be held by Him as she took her first newborn breaths in Heaven? What was it like?

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
—Author: William Chatterton Dix

I love You, Lord!

In Him,
Donna Perkins

Sweet Selah Ministries 

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet

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