In
April of this year (2012), we got a much anticipated telephone
call from my daughter and son-in-law living in Michigan,
informing us that they were expecting their first child. That
was exciting news to hear and to know that we, Marguerite’s
parents, were the first ones to be informed. Truthfully, the
entire
Brennen-Samuel-Catalyn-Edwards-Albury-Bryan-Rahming-Valleray-Pieri
clan, although separated by oceans and mountains and linking
regularly via cyber technology, were eagerly awaiting this
joyful news. Hallelujah! It was great, great news. This
is the kind of news that brings peace, joy and happiness to
parents, family members, and friends. Although no family
member pressured mom-and-dad-to-be, we were all hoping that they
would not wait too long beyond five years of marriage before we
heard
the awesome news. However, the Samuels had their strategy for
family planning, and it worked. Nevertheless, how pleasant was
the news.
With the clicking of keyboards
and sliding of mouse on pads and with pointers on computer
monitors, the message of the coming child spread wildly around
the earth. From Michigan to The Bahamas, to St Maarten to
Arizona, to Jamaica to Martinique, to France to Nebraska--the
news spread. It was the good news we were expecting. Each new
email between relatives became more intense as we all looked
forward to the time when the world would know and the baby would
be here. Then, at the ending of the first three months of the
gestation period a tidal wave of information started to engulf
the world. “Yes, it is a fact--a child is to be born.” Facebook
friends, bloggers, email geeks and inquisitive website visitors
all got the news that on November 25, 2012 (the doctor’s
prediction) a baby boy would be born to Marguerite and Leslie
Samuel. Even my church members were told from the pulpit about
the great news and they all clapped and said “Amen.”
The birth of a child is always a
miracle to behold. There is anticipation of sometimes
unrealistic proportions, that a new baby would be someone
special and do something great in the universe. Despite the
universal pandemic of political corruption, economic failures,
wars and rumors of wars, the birth of a child brings a ray hope
and sunshine, if only for a moment.
Months following the grand
announcement to the world about the coming child, there was the
pronouncement that his name would be Noah Gabriel Samuel. We
prayed, encouraged, advised, laughed and talked. Annick and I
knew that we needed to, although with great sacrifice, be with
our daughter and son-in-law for the birth. We were equally
excited when our son, Gerard and dear daughter-in-law, Dana gave
birth to our first grandchild almost three years
earlier—Alexander “Xane” Barrington Brennen. Now our daughter
would again bless us with
a child. I jokingly said to
Marguerite on the phone that it would be great that the baby
would be born on my birthday, November 29. But most of all I
only wanted another healthy, vibrant grandchild.
We arrived in Michigan on
November 14 via South Bend Airport. When we disembarked the
plane it was cold, but the anticipation of having a new
grandchild neutralized the feelings of almost freezing
temperatures. Both Marguerite and Leslie came to pick us up.
How special was the reunion. We had not seen our daughter and
son-in-law in person for almost four years. Now she was
carrying a big belly in front of her, yet remaining relatively
small.
The twenty-fifth of November
passed and no baby came. Then on Thursday, November 29,
mother-and-father-to-be went to a regularly scheduled doctor’s
visit at the Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. They
called us from the hospital about eleven in the morning and said
that the medical checkup predicted the baby to be big (over nine
pounds) and the doctor said it would be best to have a cesarean
section. Thus the appointment for the cesarean birth was set
for five o’clock that day. There was some disappointment at
first that the plans for a natural birth would not take place.
However, anticipation and excitement soon displaced the
disappointed feelings. Yes, he would be born on my birthday.
What happened next was almost like a dream. They came home to
get us and we gathered the necessary belongings and we all
headed back to the hospital at 3:12 p.m. Marguerite and Leslie
had prepared for this. The mother and baby needed post delivery
hospital supplies were packed in a suitcase and the baby’s
security car seat were both kept in car trunk from months
earlier.
After arriving to the hospital
some 25 miles away and settling in the designated room in the
Birthing Center, we waited. Leslie was allowed in the operating
theater to be beside his wife. She was ready for the birth with
local anesthesia. With camera in one hand and the other hand
gently caressing the mother-to-be, Leslie filmed the most
beautiful delivery of their first born son. It was 5:37 p.m.
He was 7lbs 9oz and 20 inches long. A child was born, healthy
and energetic. He was born to a Bahamian-French mother and a
Caribbean Dutch father. What a beautiful melting pot of
nationalities. Noah's birth added to the list of eight other
family members born in November. Something happens in a very
special way during the months of March and April in the Brennen
clan and children are born nine months later. Sarafina and
Antionio Samual, paternal grandparents, were bubbling with
excitement during each Skype conversations from St Maarten.
Thank God for cyber communication. They anticipated their visit
to Michigan within a few weeks.
THE CHILD
More than two thousand years ago
another child was born. This child will not only bring joy but
redemption to the entire world. Hundreds of years before His
birth the nation of believers anticipated He would be born. Who
would be the chosen virgin woman? News of this would not spread
around the world via cyber technology. Facebook and emails were
not even thought about. Those who would learn about the coming
birth would be the scholars and teachers of prophecy or
history. This child would be no ordinary child. This child
would be the Savior of the world who would enter the universe
through the humble virgin woman—Mary. The announcement of this
birth started thousand of years earlier because it was to be a
promise to all believers that one day there would be no need for
sacrifices of lambs and goats in the temple. This child would
not just bring happiness, joy and peace to a single family but
to the entire universe, at least to those who accepted his
birth. The prophecy of his coming is found in Isaiah 9:5-6:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will
be no end.”
It was so thrilling when we were
told the name of our grandson months before he was born.
Facebook, emails,
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Barrington Brennen
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and blogging pages
would now talk about the coming son with his personal
name—Noah Gabriel Samuel. Thousands of years before the
birth of our Savior, his name was chosen. Isaiah 7:14
states “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The
virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and
will call him Immanuel.” Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah and
added the meaning of the name: “"The virgin will be with
child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
Two thousand years ago our Savior
was born. There were no digital cameras, paparazzi
photographers, satellite transmissions, or Facebook. Yet, His
coming would change the world. Christmas is the time of the
year we reflect in a more deliberate way about the first coming
of Jesus—the first Noel. It is a reminder that He came to earth
in human form, yet without sin, to make it possible that we can
have the gift of salvation. Then one day soon, he will return
the second time—the second Noel, to take home those who believe
in Him. Are you ready to go with Him? “For unto us a Child is
born . . .” Merry Christmas! (You can view Noah’s photos at
www.soencouragement.org/noah )
Barrington H. Brennen is a
marriage and family therapist. Send your comments or questions
to P.O. Box CB-13019 or call 1-242-327-1980, or email
barringtonbrennen@gmail.com or visit
www.soencouragement.org
