1970,Sea Guard

The Good News

One faithful afternoon, Mrs. Benson put a call through to her husband.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Mr. Benson responded. “How is everything? I believe all is well. The way you’re speaking makes it seem as though something is wrong.”

“My darling,” Mrs. Benson replied, “I’m sick. I wanted to tell you that I’m already on my way to the hospital to meet our doctor.”

“Oh my God,” Mr. Benson exclaimed. “I’ll join you there very soon.”

When Mrs. Benson arrived at the hospital, she complained to the doctor about how she had been feeling recently and how her condition had worsened that day.

Dr. Nicolas Stephen said, “We need to run some tests. The results will allow me to know what is happening and determine how I should treat you.”

Mrs. Benson walked to the laboratory to do the tests while waiting for the results. When the results came out, she returned to Dr. Nicolas.

However, when the doctor went through the test results, something amazed him. He kept looking at the papers and then at Mrs. Benson.

Mrs. Benson grew worried about what could make the doctor behave like that.

“Dr. Nicolas,” she asked, “I hope all is well with me, because you’ve been silent, staring at the results and at me for some minutes now.”

Dr. Nicolas took a deep breath, and Mrs. Benson became even more frightened.

He asked gently, “Mrs. Benson, have you informed your husband of your coming here?”

“Yes, Dr. Nicolas,” she answered. “Is something wrong? I hope the test is not too bad. Please tell me.”

“Nothing is wrong, Mrs. Benson,” he said softly. “It’s just… great news.”

“Please tell me, Dr. Nicolas,” Mrs. Benson interrupted.

The doctor continued, “Based on the test result, it shows you are pregnant.”

“That is not true. Don’t lie to me!” Mrs. Benson cried.

“Mrs. Benson, I’m not lying to you,” he reassured her. “Let me explain the result. All the other tests came back negative, but the pregnancy test came back positive.”

“I think I’m dreaming, Dr. Nicolas,” she whispered.

“This is reality, not a dream,” Dr. Nicolas said. She burst into joyful tears.

“Even when the result came out, I was surprised, just like you, which is why I was speechless for a moment. I have been your family doctor for years, and I have tried everything I could to ensure that you carry your own child, but all scientific means failed us.”

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” Mrs. Benson exclaimed. “At last You’ve turned my sorrow into joy and my barrenness into fruitfulness. For many years my husband and I have been looking for a child, and now, God, You’ve finally done it.”

Dr. Nicolas said, “Now I want you to do a scan so that we may confirm further, including the weeks of gestation.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Benson was carried away by joy and still lost in conversation with Dr. Nicolas. She asked the doctor to repeat himself.

Dr. Nicolas smiled. “I understand how joyful you are, Mrs. Benson. What I said earlier is that you should have a scan done to get to know other details.”

Mrs. Benson quickly went for the scan. A few minutes later, the scan results came out, and she returned to Dr. Nicolas.

“Congratulations once again, Mrs. Benson,” said Dr. Nicolas. “Based on the scan result, it shows that you are three weeks pregnant. Congratulations!”

As Dr. Nicolas continued speaking with Mrs. Benson, Mr. Benson entered.

“Good evening, Dr. Nicolas. I believe all is well with my sweetheart,” Mr. Benson said. He was surprised to see a smiling look on his wife’s face.

“Sweetheart, why the smile? You told me you were sick; I could even hear it in your voice when we spoke on the phone.”

Dr. Nicolas interrupted, “Congratulations, Mr. Benson. Your wife is three weeks pregnant.”

“Dr. Nicolas, don’t lie to me. Tell me you’re joking,” Mr. Benson said.

Still seeing the smile on his wife’s face, he asked,My sweetheart, does it mean Dr. Nicolas is actually telling the truth?

“Yes, my darling husband,” she replied. “I’ve run all the necessary tests and scans, and the result is positive. My husband, I am truly pregnant. God has answered our prayers.”

“I am dreaming. Someone wake me up,” Mr. Benson said.

“You’re not dreaming,” Mrs. Benson responded. “You’re right here in the hospital with your wife and our family doctor.”

Mr. Benson burst into tears. “Oh my God, thank you! Oh my God, thank you! You’ve brought joy into our home. You’ve blessed me in everything, but my wife and I lacked one thing for years—a child. Oh my God, thank you for taking such stigma away.”

Dr. Nicolas was happy for the family and congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Benson once again.

“Since this is your first child and your wife is above the age to deliver by herself, we need to monitor the baby closely. It is a special baby, and she will be delivered by C-section. This is just for the safety of the child and the mother,” Dr. Nicolas advised.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson said in unison, “No problem, Dr. Nicolas. Just do all you can so that my wife carries the baby and delivers successfully.”

“The complaints of your wife are pregnancy symptoms and nothing else. Now I am going to prescribe some medication she can take for these symptoms in her present condition,” Dr. Nicolas concluded.

Mr. Benson thanked Dr. Nicolas, and he and his wife left the hospital holding hands.

When they got home, they continued to thank God for putting smiles on their faces. Mr. Benson hugged and kissed his wife.

“My wife, I really love you. You are my moon, and I’m so happy you’re carrying my child and not another woman.”

Mrs. Benson, still holding on to her husband, replied, “I’m happy, my darling husband, that I’m the one carrying your baby—your first child—and not another woman.”

Mr. Benson then held his wife’s hands and began to sing:

One thing we have together

One thing we cherish together

Is the strong cord of love that binds us together

And every moment of time we have together

I love you with my whole heart, my love.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson both laughed, and Mrs. Benson said, “Now the mouths of our secret mockers can be silent. We are going to have a child of our own who will continue with our name and inherit our properties when we leave this world.”

“Let’s think about our child’s name,” she added. “The child is a boy, I’m sure of it.”

Her husband interrupted, “Well, if you say so. However, let’s think of a name. What about naming him Clement, meaning ‘merciful,’ because the Lord has shown us mercy? Also, this child will grow up to be compassionate and merciful towards others.”

They both agreed to the name.

A few weeks later, Mrs. Benson came home rejoicing. The scan result had shown the s*x of the baby. She called her husband immediately.

“My husband! My husband! It’s a baby boy!”

Mr. Benson was so happy. “Surely, this child will be called Clement,” he said.