«Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, «Do not fear; you will have this son also» (Genesis 35:17).
In Bible times, a woman usually married when she was just a teenager; she would have one or more children, and she often died at a young age, quite often in childbirth. The mortality rate for both mothers and babies was very high. Some early Egyptian records indicate that ninety percent of babies died during their first month of life. Many women had to give birth alone or with the help of another woman, a family member who at times had little or no experience with births herself.
The birth of Rachel’s second child must have been an extremely painful experience, so much so that in her last breath she named her son Benoni, which meant «son of my pain» or «son of my misfortune.» Rachel shared her pain and fear with her midwife, an anonymous woman who fulfilled not only the role of midwife but also of encourager, bolstering the spirit of the dying mother. We need women who are willing to be encouragers rather than critics, who do not need praises, salaries, or rewards to be empathetic to the pain of others. Women who will offer a word of kindness to those who suffer, a word of encouragement for those who are fearful, and a word of hope for those who have lost theirs. Women who don’t mind remaining anonymous while others receive praise.
Imagine Rachel in heaven, meeting her midwife again and finishing the conversation that was interrupted by death: «Thank you. Your words sustained me; they filled me with courage. You believing in me helped me believe in myself.» Let us echo the words of this anonymous midwife when we speak with the women around us. Draw close to the mother who weeps for her sick child and say, «Don’t be afraid.» Befriend the childless woman and tell her these words of hope: «Don’t be afraid.» When you speak to a woman who is about to give birth to her first child, instead of filling her head with horror stories, simply tell her, «Don’t be afraid.» It doesn’t matter if your words aren’t written down in a book; you and Rachel’s midwife will be rewarded one day.
Make a list of people you can share this message with and tell them, «Don’t be afraid.»
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate