Something interesting caught my attention today. A (minor) debate among some friends about the timing of a child's birth. Now, mind you, neither of the debators were in fact involved in the birth in any way. The birth is happening in Texas this weekend, sometime between now and, well, when it happens.
But that was the rub. The debate was about whether it would be better to have the baby before 11:59:59 12-31-09 or after 00:00:01, 1-1-10. Go for the "first baby of the year" award? Or get that cute little bundle of tax credits, just under the wire?
Now, I suppose there would be some prestige involved with being the first baby in your town in 2010, or first baby in your city, or hospital, or whatever. For some, there might also be a benefit to being born on an "even" year, particularly one divisible by 10. (Monk fans, and you know who you are, already know which way Mr. Monk would vote.)
ON the other hand, there is definitely something to be said for getting in under the wire. Something about the idea of "sticking it to the man" or getting a windfall benefit appeals to many. OF course, in this case, there is also the little matter of the expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts, including the doubling of the per-child credit which may not apply in 2010 but certainly does apply in 2009. Might as well get at least one shot at the full deal, eh?
Either way, the child will be born of course. I guess maybe the best way to decide is not to. Let God send the child in His own time.
Then we can stop worrying about it and enjoy the precious gift of life God has given. NO matter how brief that life may be.
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