Tears streamed from my eyes and ran down my cheeks toward my ears. I was in labor and lying in a hospital bed. In the air-conditioned room, sweat was covering my face, and a nurse was cleaning it with words of comfort flowing out of her mouth. I gasped as I inhaled deeply enough to meet the doctor's requirements.
I overheard the doctor say, "Push." I summoned all of my strength and pushed hard, grunting. I exhaled deeply, filling my lungs. I pushed and pushed, but it seems that the baby would never come out. I began to doubt my capacity to get through it all since the pain was so excruciating. I clung to God, the one person who could help me get through it. I imagined God standing with me, and I felt newfound strength and determination to give it my all.
The word 'push' echoed in my thou
