Empowered Family

Young 18 year old mother, young father to match. Living together, unwed, pregnant. I intersect with them in life on the day she goes into labor. Father refusing to leave the room afraid that he will miss it. Laughing with his friends and family about how he thinks he should deliver the baby. I ask in serious...do you want to? He answers with a stunned and nervous “yes.” With 10 centimeters starts the action. Young, strong mother pushing with all of her might. Making quick progress. The words “You are doing so well! You are so strong.” She knows this is true. Brings a small content smile to the corner of her lips in between contractions. “Dad, you ready?” when I see the new one crowning, ready. His hands with mine I help him make his first connection to his offspring. We place the infant directly on his mother’s breast. The little one cries the sweetest cry and talks to his mother. Mom looks into her little boy’s eyes. A perfect moment. All of dad’s expression that had just seconds ago been focused on bring his new child into the world, instantly is gone from his face. He becomes stoic and flat as he looks at mother and child and the weight of what has just occurred falls over him. He quickly turns his face as tears stream down. He quickly wipes away the tears and cuts the cord. He is a father. Very few things outshine the beauty of an empowered woman. An empowered young father is, now in my mind, a close equal. But an empowered family is the most awe-inspiring site to see. I feel that there are moments in time that can change the trajectory of a person’s life. I am thrilled that there is a mom and dad who will always be eager to tell their birth story. I am overjoyed and humbled to my core that God allowed me to be a part of that story.