How’s Authrine Watch – Part Four

Wait for it.

No seriously, you’ll still have to wait for it.

If you told me that I would have been putting a four part series on monitoring Authrine’s condition then I would have laughed in your face.  (Although if you’d have told me it would have got that many more views on the blog I’d have shaken your hand and say that will do me, thank you very much.)

Yet here we are four days after Authrine was first admitted to the hospital imagining the wake being held in her honour by her friends who are praying for her singing the song, ‘They That Wait Upon The Lord’.  For the uninitiated the picture to bring up in your head is a black-majority gospel church-esque scene with organ blazing and the sisters humming deeply and then recite the lyrics as follows

They that wait, upon the Lord, shall renew their strength

They shall mount up with wings as eagles

They shall run and not get weary

They shall walk and never faint

Teach me Lord, teach me Lord

How to wait.

As the song is being sung you also have to imagine a kind of slow kinda dirge feel to it.  The song would be mournful if it wasn’t for the occasional whooping and hollering of the sisters (men don’t holler, it’s not the done thing in the sanctuary).  Of course there is also the occasion ‘Lord have mercy’ and ‘Yes Lord’ popping up as it is repeated ad infinitum whilst some of the younger folk are wondering if the words are actually a hint to how long they’ll have to wait until the song ends, although by the fifth or seventh time of repeating it some would have whipped themselves up into the heights of charismania, bucking and hollering and ‘praising God’.

(Later on, obviously, after the service with ‘the anointing’ and all, some of the same folk who were ‘in the Spirit’ will complain about something not happening fast enough, but the Church of God for me, folks!)

So anyway, that’s the scene that we have four days on.  There was at one stage the very real possibility that Authrine would have to undergo the dreaded C-section.  Although it wasn’t that dreaded.  Just over 32 years ago I know someone who popped out from that delivery and he wasn’t too bad.  Didn’t affect his mother either cos she went onto have another C-section for my younger brother, David.  (Oops, have I given away who I’m referring to?) So the fear for Authrine was that she would have to go under the knife.  She obviously wanted to avoid such a scenario as she wanted to have it as ‘natural’ as possible.  (Although how natural a ward in an NHS hospital is, is up for debate.)

As it turned out, the concern which was merited up until today may not be the eventuality as she is in a position now to have her waters broken (that is a great phrase) and thus usher in the new birth.  She’s still playing the waiting game as the hospital are having to deal with a number of other punters in the delivery suite before she can be moved down there and get in the queue for the necessary procedure, but it’s fair to say now that we are genuinely in the endgame stages now and surely this should be the last post I give of this setting which is teasing an arrival.  I am believing God that the next thing you read should be the glad tidings.  Those exclusive photos are also set to be posted as soon as I get a link allowing the laptop to pick up bluetooth (fear not, that really should be soon, honest).

In the meantime Authrine has maintained good spirits despite the inconvenience and occasional discomfort.  She thanks all those that continues to pray for her and if you don’t hear from her don’t take it as a slight, it’s got something to do with apparently waiting to give birth and so focussing energies on that thing.  She’s being well looked after I have to say.  In no way comparing Bolton Royal hospital with North Staffs hospital (before going on to compare them) she’s getting some quality service at Bolton Royal to the extent that they’ve even put her in the Presidential Suite.  OK by Presidential Suite I just mean she has her own room on the ward because of her trying physical condition.  Still, saying Presidential Suite with en-suite facilities makes it sound all nice and posh on our blessed NHS.

Even the food she’s eating is palatable which is a step up from what she’s used to in hospital facilities.  Among other things she’s also had the chance to taste and see that the Lancashire Hot-Pot is good and found it to be just so.  Good thing we’re not in Yorkshire, I told her.  (Nothing against my Yorkie friends … which makes it sound like they’re big fans of hard chocolate … just that who wants Yorkshire Pudding?  Really, who?  You’re in hospital and you want to make things worse by eating Yorkshire Pudding??)  As for moving away from the land of the Oatcakes, well I need not express the fullness of joy I have in this brief update.  Having said that her meal this evening was rather odd – all salad – then followed by cheese and crackers!  I know she’s not well and everything but really?  Rabbit food and the last request of a dying prisoner?  What’s that all about?

Other than that she’s fine, and I’d like to also use this time to say a special thank you to my dear friend and mentor Pastor Ritson Shields.  In difficult times like these you need a word in due season, and there’s no doubt in our mind that he has been there with the word.  Those being of course ‘anecdote’ and ‘signet’.  Authrine was looking for those to complete her crossword and we were both struggling to come up with those, but Pastor Shields again showed once more why it’s so important to be a man of the Word, and you can see why I have that as my ow aim and determination in life.

So as you along with us recite all those helpful words about patience being a part of the fruit of the Spirit and being a virtue and singing that same song all over again, keep on holding on for the change will come.  And for those who have also been encouraging me that I can expect a surprise regarding the gender of the child to be given … we shall see … (he types with a knowing glint in his eye, almost as if he knows something that no one else will …)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd