Precious gift of life

A dear friend had her little boy last week. For me, as long as I can remember, I always knew I wanted a family. In the mind of a young girl, of course it was a long way off, lots of things had to fall into place before that day would come. If my friend is anything like me, it's a moment in time that she's been waiting to meet for quite sometime.

My friends' little boy was quickly taken to the NICU, where he was dressed in a "cooling" hat to prevent brain damage. My heart hurts for this family and it reminded me of the preciousness and frailty of life. I was taken back to our early days in the hospital, the anxiety, fear, overwhelming emotion and physical exhaustion offset by joy for the long awaited arrival of our baby, our son.

It's hard to describe the emotion, but having the weight of concern for his life lifted off my shoulders when I'd hear his cries all night long made the hard night a good hard that I wouldn't trade for any alternative, well, except maybe a perfectly sleep trained baby that smiled, laughed, and communicated perfectly as a newborn. But in reality, if he didn't cry I would never have known or understood his unforgiving need to feed him or change him or hold him. And, I would have never known how truly selfish I am at heart.

Newborns are hard, and to add to the feeling of helplessness, concern for his life, brings me to my knees to plead with God to remove this trial from the little ones life and the life of the family. Put it on me, God. I can handle it. The truth is I can't handle it, I just want to try. In my ignorance and thinking I can fix things, I quickly lose sight of the one that does fix things. Jesus heals souls. He gives life. He knows, loves, and provides.

"Some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he then said to the paralytic-"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:2-8

Thanks, Lord for the gift of life, both spiritual and physical. Heal the baby's little body and convince us of your goodness for your glory.