I was having a chat with a newly married young lady the other day. She had not been too well and I called to check up on her. The conversation went like this. “So my dear how are you feeling now?” “Much better Mummy”, she responded. So I asked her what the doctor had to say after the tests she had run and she goes like (the conversation was in Twi by the way), “a sƐ mi nyim”. And I was like, “a sƐ wo nyim sƐn? Se nyinsƐn diƐ wo nyim a na sƐ won nyim!”
To wit she said, “as if I am pregnant” or to frame it better, “it appears that I am pregnant” and my response was “ah but as for pregnancy you are either pregnant or not, there is nothing like almost pregnant or half pregnant!” (of course I said that smiling, knowing very well that she was probably a bit shy!) Everyone including herself may be oblivious to the seed growing inside of her but she is still pregnant. You don’t become pregnant when your belly begins to give you away but right from the moment of conception!
I thought about this all day and remembered that ‘half pregnant’ is actually an idiom used in the English language which is explained as follows;
Half-pregnant:
An impossible state to be in, because (obviously) it’s a black or white deal, all or nothing. Often used to refer to someone who’s trying to sit on the fence when it’s impossible to do so (The Phrase Finder; www.phrases.org.uk)
People use this phrase to talk about situations which are very clear and definite or where you need to be completely involved. (Idioms, The Free Dictionary)
I like the phrase
completely involved; all in or not at all!
There is no way a woman can be ‘half pregnant.’ She is either carrying a seed in her womb or not. Either it was there and has died or was not there at all. When that seed in the womb is nurtured and she gives birth, she is then fruitful. Being half pregnant is equated to not being pregnant at all, so if you are half pregnant you will give birth to air!
In the same way in our lives, it is futile for us to be ‘half pregnant.’ You are either fully pregnant with the purpose of God for your life or you are not pregnant. If you are fully pregnant and allow that seed to be nurtured through time and effort spent on investing in its development, that seed becomes a full blown baby whose delivery brings joy.
There are many dangers for a pregnant woman; the wrong drugs, the wrong food, the wrong environment or physical abuse can cause the pregnancy to be lost. Just as most women take care to ensure that the seed they are carrying is kept safe and develops well so you and I need to nurture the seed we are carrying in us. Seeds of greatness lie within each of us but what are we doing to nurture and cultivate those seeds? Are we pregnant with purpose and looking forward to the delivery of our babies? Or are we half pregnant, not fully committed to our assignment, calling, purpose, agenda, or goal?
It reminds me of God’s Word to the church in Rev 3:15-16; “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Even God would like us to be one or the other; be hot or cold, i.e. be in or be out. Stop being halfhearted, stop being lukewarm in your attitude to your dreams or your purpose. You are either in it or not in it. You are either pursuing your passion or not. It is the singlemindedness of purpose that has led most athletes and successful people to achieve the feats we celebrate. Often it’s not about talent or abilities but the decision to stay the course. They conceive the vision of their success (that’s being pregnant!) and hold that vision in their hearts so that everything they do (that’s nurturing) is geared towards realizing that dream (that’s birth!)
Today I want to remind myself that it’s all or nothing. In my walk with God, it is total commitment; I choose to be fully pregnant with my purpose and to pursue it till I see the fruit birthed in my life. I am not giving birth to air! No way!
For all of the dreams l have left on the back burner of my life; for those unfinished projects I have haphazardly tackled I say; no more! In am in it with my heart and soul until I see them materialize!
I choose to trim off from my life anything that is contrary to my purpose or anything that will terminate my pregnancy. I cannot be half pregnant. I have received great seeds into my womb and I am carrying these seeds to the finish line! What about you?
Happy New Year!
