Baby Blessings

I had the pleasure of attending our baby dedication service at our church yesterday afternoon. There were 20 babies dedicated including 3 sets of twins! It was beautiful to see that many families who are committed to raising their children in Godly homes, and also so many that are part of our MOPS group. I was honored to be a part of this special afternoon and overjoyed that we are part of a church that helps us in raising our children. My friend Karen and her husband Lee had their little boy Austin dedicated yesterday. They struggled for years to add this sweet baby to their family and the Lord heard their prayers (and the prayers of so many that were praying for them). Austin has had some abnormal brain development since he was still in-utero. It is a wait and see game right now, with many of us praying that his brain will develop normally. The Lord continues to answer prayers and support this loving family. Karen and Lee are so positive and continue to focus on the good reports that come back - and there have been many. God has a plan for Austin and for whatever reason, this is part of it. This weekend I also went to see one of our MOPS moms whose baby is in the hospital. Little Caroline is 3 months old and weighs less than 7 lbs. She is the most alert, beautiful little girl and even with all the tubes hooked up to her, she is content. Her mom says she rarely cries in spite of all she has been through. As I walked into their room and saw this tiny baby hooked up to all this "stuff" my heart silently cried out to the Lord "why?". I secretly wondered where He was. But as I sat there and talked to little Caroline and her mom Kim, as I saw all the doctors, nurses and therapists come in, I felt the Lord's presence. I was so impressed with Kim. How she was so calm as she talked to the hospital staff and knew exactly what was going on with the monitors and i.v's. I asked her if she was a nurse before and she said "no, this is all the stuff I have learned since we've been here". It's hard not to question God when you see families you love go through difficult times. Especially babies. But God is there. He goes before each of us, and with these babies in particular, he cradles them in his loving arms and comforts them in ways we may never know. But sometimes God wants to show himself in other ways. That's what He uses us for. We are to show God's love in our actions and words. Jesus spoke that we are to "let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Not that we are to get credit, but that our Father can get credit. We are to hold these families, love them, and lift them up in prayer. In Matthew 7 verse 9, Jesus is also spoke about how we, who are evil by nature, still give our children what they want. How much more will our Father in heaven, who is all perfect and loving, give good gifts to us if we ask. So I pray for these families. That the Lord will hold them and love them, and give them strength and heal their children. I pray that these families in particular will feel God's presence both by what He does and what He does through others.