A few weeks ago, we were meeting with some friends from
church for community group. We turned to Luke 12. “Consider how the lilies
grow,” Jesus said as He commanded the disciples not to worry but to seek first
the kingdom of God. My heart was stirred by the passage
as I thought about its implications in my life and Blake’s life. I thought for
a moment about how Lily is growing in my womb. God is knitting her together.
She has five fingers on each hand, five toes on each foot. Her second toe is a
little bit longer than her big toe. We have watched the ultrasound as the
doctors and nurses examine her little body, identifying her brain, her kidneys,
her stomach, her bones. I have seen the tiny vertebrae running along her back
as she twists and turns during the ultrasounds. Her face is usually half hidden
from the eye as she snuggles in close to her momma. In a healthy pregnancy,
parents may experience the two or three ultrasounds. Due to Lily’s condition,
we have had the joy of experiencing at least nine ultrasounds so far and will
continue the tradition this week as the doctor checks her growth and her
heart’s condition. Each time, I am
astounded at how her little body is forming and taking shape.
When I
consider how our Lily is growing, from a tiny group of cells into a vibrant
beautiful baby, I am amazed at the kindness of God. I am astounded by His
creativity. He knows her better than anyone has ever known her. He knows her
heart, each valve, ventricle, vessel, and pathway. Surely He is in complete
control. God is not surprised by the defects. He is not intimidated by the
possible outcomes and procedures that may await her. The Lord, her Father, has
a perfect plan for her. His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts higher
than my thoughts. He stands alone and who can oppose Him? Job 23:3-17 What is
man that He is mindful of him? Psalm 8:4 We are dust and our lives are as
fleeting as a vapor or a breath. Yet God loves and cares for each of us. The
Scriptures remind us that He knows our coming and going, the number of hairs on
our heads, and our true selves. We cannot hide from Him for the earth is His
and everything in it. There is no place so far that His arm does not reach no
secret so dark and deep that His eye does not see. Psalm 139 His love breaks
through the walls we build around our hearts and shatters the fear and doubt
that clouds our vision of Him. As the sun rises in the east, so His love never
fails. His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:21-24
Doesn’t God
know how to provide for my every need? He knows how scared we get and how
desperate we are for His healing in Lily’s heart. But we will wait on the Lord.
“He is our Help and our Shield. In him our hearts rejoice for we trust in His
holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our
hope in You.” Psalm 33:20-22 Last week we met the heart surgeon and the
neonatologist and toured the NICU at the hospital where doctors are planning on
Lily being after she is born. The
doctors and nurses were all very kind and knowledgeable. We are still praying
for Lily’s healing. We prepare for the worst case scenarios as best we can but
we pray for relentless faith and God’s miraculous hand to display His great
majesty in the healing of her heart.
Slowly but
surely, her nursery is taking shape. We still need most of the baby amenities
and necessities but Blake has put the crib together and has kindly packed away
his books to make room for our little girl. We are so excited about bringing
her home one day! Blake and I are eagerly anticipating letters from the
graduate schools that he applied to in December and January. We are hopeful that letters will begin coming
in within the next few weeks. There is a lot of uncertainty in our future but
spontaneity is the butter to our bread. We are learning to be flexible and
thankful for everything we have and every moment we are given. Please continue to lift our Lily up in
prayer. We appreciate each of you as you walk with us through this journey in
one way or another. Thank you. Take a few minutes today to consider how the
lilies grow into breathless beauties without exerting an ounce of effort. In
the same way, the Lord is clothing us and feeding us each day, calling us to
rest and enjoy life in Him. Wade in the oceans
of His grace today, knowing that He delights in His children and rejoices over
them with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
You humble me with your faith and the beautiful ways you express it. I can't help but recall another time, nearly 20 years ago now, when another dear friend was expecting a little one, and she too was told that defects were a real probability. In fact, these defects included catastrophic kidney deformities if memory serves, as well as a huge tumor growing on baby girl's face. She was urged to terminate the pregnancy...a suggestion that was unimaginable!! Many of us at LH prayed fervently for parents and growing baby...and when that beautiful little girl was born, not only was there no problem with her kidneys, but her face was untouched by any blemish whatsoever!!! The doctors...I believe there had been three...went back to review all their ultrasounds and all agreed that SOMETHING had indeed been there...and none could explain what happened to make it go away! But we could!! Later on, that little girl did have some issues with her pituitary gland that were solved without major complications...and today she's an absolutely gorgeous young woman in college, loving the Lord and relishing her life!!! All that to say....God CAN heal...nothing is beyond His mighty hand....and no matter what happens, He is, as you know, there with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. And if God is with you, what have you to fear? One more thing...some folks in our neighborhood have some flowers along their driveway called "surprise lilies." They are my very favorite flower of all...because they only pop up for a very few days in the very hot days of summer...they have no foliage at all...just a stick with the most wonderful, amazingly perfect cluster of pink lilies at the top!! There they sit in their glory for about 3-4 days...and then they're gone until next year! Every summer I drive through the neighborhood WAITING and WATCHING for those incredibly beautiful pink flowers to pop their heads up and say hello. It's a joy to see them for their short visit. I think your Lily is going to surprise you...from the very start of her life independent of your womb. Already untold numbers of prayers are going up for her...in faith that God is going to do a mighty work in her life. I can hardly wait to see Lily's precious little smile. I'll be praying.
ReplyDeleteLovely words and lovely faith. So glad I can keep praying for Lily. Can't wait to meet her!
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