Friday, June 18, 2010

Amelia's Moses Basket

Amelia now has a Moses basket.

I never saw the need or practicality of a Moses basket for Noah.
But for Amelia it just seems right.
It felt strange not to have a place prepared for her to sleep.
She does, after all, have her own room in our house.
In it, she has the perfect white little girl nursery furniture
Dresser, armoire, nightstand…

I had been waiting to buy her a crib and glider
until I had the ultrasound results confirming what I was sure I already knew…
..that she was the daughter I had prayed for.

She is.

Tim thought I was crazy-I’m sure of it.

He might still think I’m crazy getting a basinet basket for a baby
that will never be sleeping anywhere but in her parents arms,
but the name Moses basket gives me a certain peace.

Looking ahead I am anticipating the moments where I will have to let go
of her earthy body;
hand it over to our funeral director
hand her over to a transport service
hand her over to God.
I hope in those moments I will feel God at my side.
I hope that I will see her in her Moses basket,
and remember to trust, as Moses’ mother did so many years before me,
that God will keep my baby safe,
and that his plans for her life are so much larger
than her mother could ever envision.



Exodus 2

The Birth of Moses

Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.

Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"

"Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."

Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
 

11 comments:

Jennifer said...

Such a beautiful and heartfelt post! Amelia is so blessed to have you for a mother!

Hannah Rose said...

My Lily was buried in her green Moses basket. It was the first thing my mom and I bought for her, before we even knew if she was a boy or girl. I just loved it. I wanted her to be cozy in it. It was only hers and I know I never would have been able to let another baby use it. Praying for you, dear one! You should watch my video I made for Lily and you'll see the Moses basket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOkmkS1GWoc

susan said...

how beautiful and how appropriate. God will surely bless you as you lay your baby back in his hands.

pennynjon said...

I bought a basinette for Ella too. Like you, it didn't feel right not to have something for her to sleep in. I think the moses basket sounds perfect!

Sarah and my Boys said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah and my Boys said...

I do not know you, nor probably ever will, but I wanted you to know that your courage, strength, faith and love as a parent, make me a better mother every day. I look at you taking on such an impossible journey, with love and faith. You are a wonderful mother. Someday I may see you on the street in passing and never know that you are the woman I look up to for strength, and you may never know how loved you truly are. My thoughts and prayers are with you daily. May God Bless you and your family!

Anonymous said...

Our Father will surely protect our Sister in Christ. I have faith that He will hold her in His Hands and keep her safe from all harm. I am here to assure you that our God is a good God and loves Amelia with a love that is beyond all understanding. Our Father loves you with a love that is beyond all understanding. Amelia's Moses Basket is a very special place for her. How blessed is she to have a mother such as you to protect her and to share with her the love which God shares with you. Praying fervently for you each and every day...Joan

Melanie said...

Melissa, what a beautiful post.

Love you guys!

AmyV said...

What a wonderful idea and beautiful post about the moses basket.

Unknown said...

I love the story of Moses' birth. I love that Amelia has her own Moses basket. We had a bassinet for Lilly (a friend had given it to us before the ultrasound) We never imagined she would sleep in it so it was in the closet. We pulled it out for her to lay in when she came home. Now I can look and know that is one other thing she touched before she went to be with our Lord. I hope that you are able to have the time with Amelia that we had with Lilly if not more. I am praying for you everyday and hoping that you get time with your precious baby girl. Many hugs and love and prayers
elena

Holly said...

I think it's lovely that she has a Moses basket. Our children do deserve those special little things like that.