I’m starting a campaign to change the term “false” labor–which sounds so demeaning, doesn’t it? As if the pregnant woman isn’t intelligent enough to recognize what she’s feeling is a forgery, a fake.

It may not be wholly productive and may not lead to the soon release of the baby from its cocoon, but can’t we find a prettier word than “false”? How about “practice” labor? Or “warm up” labor? Or “trial run”?

My precious mother is experiencing many trial runs as she awaits the release from her earth-life cocoon to be welcomed into the arms of her waiting Savior. I hold her hand and help her breathe through the “contractions.” Excitement builds for her as she nears the moment when He says, “It’s time. You can push. Let’s get you delivered.”

Day after day of trial runs tell her, “Not yet.”

We’re grateful for every moment we have with her and can’t imagine how we’ll bear the dual weight of grief and rejoicing without stumbling.

But it interests me anew today that the Lord promised in His Word that He never brings a laboring woman that far without delivery. Trial runs are always precursors to the real thing…in life and in death.

For writers: Where in your writing is the ministry to those in “false labor” in their relationships, their health struggles, their faith contractions? Do you address only those who are in “active labor”? And does it comfort your own heart that the practice runs that have brought you near publication have not been wasted–they’re getting you ready?

For readers: The Lord is the quintessential coach for the “false labor” moments of our lives. You can confidently get through them if you find your focal point (Him), hold tight to His Hand, and listen when He tells you, “Breathe like this.”