Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

At age 27, I found myself pregnant and 10 days past my delivery date. I never did go into labor. I had to be induced. It was a very long, arduous and painful delivery, all 36 hours of it. Every time I had a contraction, my husband was there for me, holding my hand and whispering descriptions of beautiful places and things to take my mind off the pain.

It didn’t look good for me, and after the labor had gone on for quite a while, they moved me into a very large white room that must have been an operating room. An anesthesiologist stood next to me. After introducing himself, he assured me that he was just there to be on the safe side.. My husband had on a gown, cap over his hair, and booties over his boots. I was very naive, and exhausted and had no idea that they were not certain the baby could be delivered naturally. It was quite the sight to be seen, when my son was born. My OBGYN had to use a vacuum extractor on the baby’s head, and he was pulling the baby while the anesthesiologist placed his arm across my stomach and was pushing down on the baby. But at last, our firstborn son was born. As they were caring for me, the first person to hold the baby was my husband. My husband was sitting in a chair that they had brought in for him during the delivery because he had looked shaky and pale, but when they handed him our son, he was fine. He cried with happiness and amazement. It was an emotional event. When they finally handed the baby to me, I looked down at his face and I immediately knew him. I cannot explain it. I recognized him! I said to the baby, “there you are. I have been waiting for you.” I have heard other mothers say that they also experienced the same feeling.

The most wonderful gift I ever received was the gift of motherhood. I had three beautiful children, and was so blessed to be their mother. I took my job very seriously, but I also did a terrible job sometimes. Yet still my children have turned out just fine. Wonderful, in fact.

I will never forget the feeling I had when I first looked into my firstborn’s face. It is a feeling that I treasure. I had been waiting for him. And I knew him when he arrived.