My daughter turns 4 today. And it seems fitting that I share with you the other parts of the miracle that occurred at that time.
Facebook reminded me that I had posted on July 25th, the day before she was delivered, “Lord, please remind me that I am your child and I have nothing to worry about. You have it ALL under YOUR control.” I don’t think you can begin to imagine what I was experiencing. I’d already been in the hospital for 3 days. That fateful Monday after the weekend (see post entitled “Our Heroes” for the first part), I went to work. For some reason, while I was only 31 weeks pregnant that Monday, I went to work and cleaned up my desk space, and finally filled out all the forms needed for my maternity leave. I’m a procrastinator by nature, and I still had a full 2 months. Something told me there was some urgency to it that particular day. Although I wasn’t in the mood to eat, my colleague forced me to have lunch – I’d already called my doctors’ office, and was told in no uncertain terms that I needed to come see them that day – that was my last meal for 5 days. I even did my “What you need to know while I am away” list, and informed my colleague as a just in case, not even thinking that that day was to be my last day for 3 ½ months.
While I was in the hospital, I know there were lots of prayers that were being sent up. I was being comforted throughout the whole process because I knew that God had it all under control. My husband had literally just left the hospital after staying overnight with me when they informed me they were going to do an emergency C-section, because I had been on medication for 3 days, they were starting to get concerned for the baby. When I called him, he said it would take him a little time to get back. I called my mom who was at work and she said she couldn’t leave as she was short staffed. When the nurses were busy prepping and everyone coming in and out of the room, they asked if I had any questions – my one question was “who is going to hold my hand?” The nurse laughed at told me that she would. When they wheeled me into the OR, and as I continued to be prepped, the nurse informed me that they had to go to the front to go get my mom. Wait what? If you knew how far she had to walk and drive to get to the hospital – you would know that God must have given her wings. I also later found out that my husband had made it back and my substitute mom was there as well. Talk about God providing.
When they told me that they had to deliver me, I had one prayer – Lord, please help her lungs to be developed. When they pulled out the 3 lbs. 4 oz. baby, and she cried for the first time- with a piercing scream, I cried thanking God because I knew he had heard and answered my prayers. While I won’t tell you that the 26 days that she was in the hospital was an easy one, I know that God had been with us. While I was pregnant, I had started reading a children’s bible to her, and my goal had been to finish the bible before she was born. When they told me on day 25 that she was to be released, I had one story left to read to her.
I say all of this to say: God is amazing and you can trust him. I have no idea what you are going through but He’s proven time and again that I can trust Him. He hears and answers our prayers, no matter how insignificant you think they are. Today, she is a fiery, smart and beautiful 4 year old and proves to be my blessing over and over again.
Lord, help me to continue to trust in your goodness and mercy. Even when I cannot see how things will work out, I know that you are working things out for my good. Help me to always trust that.