We had made all the arrangements for the birth of our first child. Holly really liked her OBGYN and we were going to GBMC, since that was where Holly had been working as an RN in the Nursery. All of her co-workers couldn’t wait to be a part of it. I was going to have everything ready to take to the hospital. And then we took an unexpected journey!

This week we are going to look at the Unexpected Journey that Mary and Joseph took in her ninth month. I am sure Mary had her midwife selected and the plan for which room in the house she would give birth  and looked forward to supportive family around at this difficult time.

The morning we were to return home from a vacation in Bethany Beach, August 15, 1981, we were scrambling to call an OBGYN that we had never met, rushing to a hospital that we had never been to and nurses we did not know. Family was forced to drive to Beebe Hospital In Lewes, Delaware when Holly was admitted. 9 hours later, Sarah Grace came into the world.

It seems that, often in life, our plans are changed and we end up taking a journey to a place that is often not of our choosing.

I think that the message this Sunday will give us hope, encouragement and strength as we face our current unexpected journeys. Or maybe you will realize how you might provide room and hope for someone in your life who is in the midst of that journey.

 In Jesus,

Barry