Crown of Blessing
May 9, 2021 | by The Fellowship
In Proverbs 17:6, the Lord reveals that our children’s children are a crown to us as we advance in years. Sometimes we have to wait a bit for the blessing of grandchildren, but how great is the anticipation when you receive the news that a baby is on the way!
Unfortunately, sometimes the road to becoming a grandparent takes a tragic detour. Our oldest daughter and her husband had undergone fertility treatments and experienced a healthy, normal pregnancy before learning their baby would not survive after birth. Their prayer and ours became a plea for the Lord to give them a few hours to love and hold their baby before the angels came to take her to heaven. God answered that prayer! Despite the devastating loss, God showed up amidst the pain with food, prayers from all over the country, financial gifts, and a peace for us all that defied the circumstances. We began to experience a new depth to the love of God that transcends our deepest pain.
After a time, the process started again with fertility treatments, injections, and doctor appointments. Before long, a pregnancy was confirmed. Praises were lifted to our Lord, and a call for prayer went out for this pregnancy that was sure to be anxiety-ridden. With each passing milestone, praises bombarded heaven and more prayers were requested for the next stage of the pregnancy.
An ultrasound revealed twins! What joy we felt for this double blessing! But with it came added concern for the increased risk factors. Doctor appointments as well as testing became more frequent, and concerns with gestational diabetes and other potential complications hovered in the shadows. As our medical knowledge about pregnancy increased, so did the reality of things about which to be concerned. But how gracious is our God to welcome our ongoing prayers about all potential problems! Thankfully, they were avoided! Our God has knowledge greater than anything we can humanly comprehend or fear!
Meanwhile, blessings were flowing and our younger daughter and her husband had welcomed their first child! What a joyful event, confirming that all was well with our world, and that infant death (although common) is not a given.
Covid 19 had arrived on the scene and reared its ugly head, creating more concerns for the double pregnancy. But they were wiped clean through the power of prayer by so many relatives and Christian friends.
One month before the due date for the twins, the landlord decided to put their house up for sale. At eight months pregnant, life dictated the need for them to pack boxes, find a new home, get ready for two tiny babies, and deal with a lot of upheaval. Oh my! But our God is good in the midst of turmoil and upheaval! He is a God of peace and of order! A God who provides!
A new townhouse was found, movers scheduled, and many helping hands were offered. One week after the move was completed and boxes were still being unpacked, contractions started two weeks earlier than ideal.
The twins were ready, so a C-section was performed. Two new babies, a boy and a girl, were welcomed into the world at 4 pounds 5 ounces and 5 pounds 6 ounces. They spent ten days in the NICU for temperature regulation and low blood sugar issues. A steady stream of prayers kept flowing to the throne of grace and answers were poured out. The babies are thriving and growing!
What a special Mother’s Day this is for me! Three grandchildren under the age of two ... and another due to arrive by adoption this summer! Truly, God cares about us in our deepest places and loves us enough to grant our hearts’ desires.
L.L.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:28-29