Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 04:1 (Fall 2013)
Article: Equipping The Generations: The Needle And The Joy
Author: GraceAnna Castleberry

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JDFM 4:1 (Fall 2013) p. 60

Equipping The Generations:
The Needle And The Joy

GraceAnna Castleberry

GraceAnna Castleberry is a wife, mother, and worker at home. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband Grant, who is pursuing a M.Div. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. GraceAnna holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from Clemson University and is passionate about building into the lives of children, primarily her own two daughters. GraceAnna and her mom host a weekly radio program, Mothering from the Heart, which can be heard Wednesdays at 11am (EST) at WAGP.net. GraceAnna blogs regularly at www.graceannacastleberry.com and you can find her on Twitter @gacastleberry.

“You’re so young,” my anesthesiologist commented as he prepped my back for the ever-so-long epidural needle. I was in the delivery room preparing to give birth to our second daughter, Evangeline.

“I just can’t believe you are already having your second child and you’re only twenty-six,” he continued. “Yes,” was all I could utter through my agony. I wasn’t really in the mood to carry on a conversation.

My anesthesiologist tried to make the experience lighthearted, but then the conversation turned and he started sharing how much he enjoyed his single lifestyle – the women, the parties, the late nights. It was obvious he thought his life was the one I should be leading, a life without marital commitment and raising children.

I began to relax as the epidural took effect. As he packed up his stuff and walked out the door, I wanted to say something, but I was speechless.

In his profession, he only saw women in immense pain. He was never around to experience the joy of seeing a new life entering the world.

All he saw was the needle, not the joy.

A Pain That is Worth It

Growing up, my mom embraced motherhood with all her heart. She helped me understand that being a wife and mother were gifts from God. I prayed that one day God would give those gifts to me.

She embraced the joys of motherhood fully. It’s not that she never experienced the pain that comes along with it – every mother knows that there is agony not only in childbirth but also during times of raising children. There are struggles. There are hard days. There is heartbreak.

But there is also joy.

I cannot even put into words the joy I experienced the afternoon that our first daughter, AudreyKate, was born. I labored inconsistently for four days prior to her arrival, which was eight days past her due date. She came out screaming and full of life from the get-go. The only word that comes close to capturing the way I felt at that moment ...

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