Glimpses of Heaven
Heidi Hennigan | Friday, December 28, 2012 As a doula, Heidi watches heaven breaking through the seams in this world. Using her own experience, her interviews with new parents, and Swedenborg's writings about early childhood, this essay draws out the tender reality that encompasses each new life at its very beginning. -Editor
That first breath; that first look; that first touch; that first smell; THAT FIRST LOVE! It may be in the middle of the night or 2:16 in the afternoon, but one will always remember the moment their child is born! There are so many things that happen in that split second of new life!
I have been very honored to be able to see this sacred moment many times. I am a doula. A doula supports a new mother and family during the last part of pregnancy and through the laboring and birth process. I love taking the family’s first family picture only moments after birth. I rarely do this without tears of joy in my eyes and this big gigantic smile all over my face and acknowledging the Lord’s presence in the room. In this moment of time, nothing else matters, except the love that is exploding from this brand new family. I am in awe because most of the time I do not have personal ties to the families, yet here I am engrossed in the love that is enveloping the room. It feels like this brilliant shining light that is filling the room with warmth!
When a new baby is being born, the room fills with angels. The angels are surrounding the baby with love! It is so infectious for everyone in the room, but most of all for the mom and dad.
Wondering about the inspiration for this article? Look up the New Church, which is based on the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
