Born into His family

During the 2024 solar eclipse, many people sought prime spots to see the fantastic events in the sky. Our great nation had many viewing points to satisfy the curious and adventurous.
I remember 4th grade in 1969 when we had such an opportunity. It seemed as if the whole school was abuzz with the celestial happening.
As children, we were warned that the sun’s brilliance would blind us if we looked up. Our solar project was two pieces of paper with a tiny pinhole in one. The two were to be held slightly apart, the pinhole being the upper portion. As the eclipse happened, we could see the event’s shadow on the underneath paper.
With my lack of understanding, mine did not work, and I missed everything.
With our recent eclipse, there were conspiracies about how the totality would follow a path of recent storms in the Midwest. Others believed catalytic earthquakes would rock our world.
Additional thoughts lead to the Days of Jonah and his three days in the belly of a great fish. Jesus referred to this scripture, speaking of His resurrection from the grave (Matthew 12:38-42). Many believed April 8, 2024, would be the resurrection of the church.
I chose to miss the 2024 eclipse. On the day of its appearance, I didn’t consider the events or the conspiracies.
Nevertheless, I did not miss the wonder of creation. On the prescribed date, instead of watching the sky, I sat with three of my grandchildren, watching the labor and delivery doors of the Women’s Pavillion. I saw the amazement in their eyes as they awaited the arrival of their baby sister, MaryBelle. I watched as their eyes filled up with tears when they heard she was perfect in every way.
I compare the two events because both contain the beauty of creation. The solar eclipse reminds us of God’s hand controlling the heavens. It is not a time to instill fear but to witness of His greatness.
The heavens and the highest of heavens belong to God. The Earth and all it contains are His (Deuteronomy 10:14). He has made us rulers, placing all things under our feet (Psalm 8:6). Yet, he has given us free will to choose faith in His words or fear of the enemy.
Our world did not end on April 8, 2024. For my family, a new life was born on this day. We were given another day to embrace love, life, and faith.
At the birth of MaryBelle, I watched the hearts of three siblings experience the greatest of emotions as they finally met the one they already loved. The hospital room was not darkened by celestial events but was illuminated by God’s gift of life.
We can all experience God’s gift of life through our faith. When we accept Jesus as our Lord, we start to breathe in the breath of life that God offers us.
Instead of fearing the uncertainties of life and the theories of man, we begin to embrace God’s gift of new life.
Just as a family eagerly awaits the birth of a child, the Heavenly Father patiently waits for our birth into His family. We become a child cradled in the palm of His hand as He illuminates our lives with the greatest love of His heart.
John 1:12-13 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.