Can you remember what you were doing 41 years ago? For me, God had chosen to entrust one of His beautiful creations into my care, when I helped to deliver a baby.

I will never forget that time.

Neither will the mom Janice Sheena forget, I am sure.

Janice and Abe Sheena lived in the apartment building just across the road from our home in Lower Nicola.

The day was a hot summer afternoon, my two daughters were playing with neighbors’ children, when Janice saw my Cathy, she called out to her, so Cathy went inside. Janice told her, “Please run home to your mom, tell her I am having my baby and I need her help.”

Well, my baby girl ran as fast as she could. She ran into our yard, telling me, “Mom, Janice is having her baby right now, she needs your help.”

I went over to Janice’s and sure enough, there was no time left to argue with nature.

I remember having a pot of boiling water, putting some aside to sterilize the scissors and white thread.

Then we began to time her labour pains. I gathered clean baby clothes that Janice had, diapers and baby blankets.

Everything happened so quickly. I knelt down by her bedside and asked the greatest Physician of all, Jesus, to help me, to show me what to do.

And He did.

When the baby was about one or two more pushes from entering the world,  I really felt the glory of God’s presence there with Janice and me.

What an honourable experience indeed.

I left her side for a few minutes to get the wash basin, towels and face cloths.

When I returned, the baby was ready and I told Janice to give one more push.

It was the height of excitement as I helped the baby. She gave her first tiny little cry and she was born.

I had to remember how far from Janice’s body to cut and tie the umbilical cord, and I did that.

Cutting the umbilical  cord is crucial, and I did not want to make a mistake.

God was there with Janice, the baby and me.

I gave baby a clean rub down, dressed her, then gave her to Mom.

Then I got Janice cleaned up too, before phoning for the ambulance.

The ambulance arrived and Janice was put onto a cart. Then we all rode to the hospital.

There was a doctor waiting for us by the entrance way when we arrived.

He called me inside, checked Janice out, then he actually shook my hand and told me, “You did very well indeed.”

When I left Janice at the hospital, I told her that I would tell Abe where she was at.

This year it has been 41 years since all this took place.

That baby girl has grown into a very smart adult.

Her name is Rhonda Corrine Sheena.

My heart is full to overflowing thinking that God actually chose me of all people to deliver one of His beautiful creations.

Whenever I hear or see something of Rhonda Corrine Sheena, I think, just imagine, long before God created this world, He already had plans of Janice and Abe having a baby girl. God tells us in the Bible that He chose us.

Ephesians 1: 4 says, “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame in love.”

We all have a purpose for our lives. God planned each day for our lives.

How awesome is that? But then He also gave us the freedom of choice. We can make decisions on our own, and if we make a mistake, He helps, by correcting our wrong. And we usually learn a lesson from our mistakes.

I am honoured by God to have delivered His most beautiful creation.

Rhonda, it is an honour to have been a part of your beginnings in this world. May God our Creator walk with you, in every part of your life.

Jeanette McMaster is an Elder and member of the Upper Nicola Band.