Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Dearest God,

What wonders you reveal, O Lord! It was nearly 11:00 p.m. at a local hospital when I heard a familiar voice call out my name. I turned to find a woman I had not seen for nearly sixteen years. We hugged and then she introduced me to her daughter who was waiting to be seen in the emergency room. I looked at this beautiful young woman who I had not seen since I last held her in my arms as a newborn infant.

A couple from my church had trouble conceiving a child. We had prayed for them. Then one day my teenage daughter came home and told me one of her friend's young sister was expecting. Too young to be a mother, she planned as a loving gift to give her baby up for adoption. I called the childless couple to talk about their openness to adoption. They talked and then called me back. "I might have a baby for you." I told the couple. They were thrilled. I worked with an attorney from our church and the other family to see what could be done. Everything fell into place.

I remember so well the room where we all gathered. The mother sat holding her baby. The mother's parents sat nearby. The adopting couple and the attorney sat on the other side. I sat in the middle. I talked about the meaningful work of God in the coming together of the great event. We held hands and prayed together. The papers were signed and the baby was given to me. After blessing this beautiful child, I handed her to the new parents. There was hardly a dry eye in the room.

And now this infant turned young woman sat before me. And I thought back, remembering your amazing grace for all those who sat in that room many years ago. What blessing!

Loving you
is so easy.
Remembering
your work,
seeing once again
your fingerprints
on human lives
just makes
my faith
grow richer and deeper.
Those who reject you
for whatever reason,
those who cannot believe
for whatever reason,
those who turn away
for whatever reason
miss the most amazing
creative work
in the cosmos.
Sightings and signs
of your presence
pop up everywhere.
For whatever reason
I have eyes
to see it,
miss a lot
I am sure,
but still
I see
divine evidence
of your coming.
Tonight
I breathed
a prayer
of thanksgiving
to you
for this young woman
and the blessing
that is hers,
her parents,
her other parents,
yours and mine.
Glory to you, Lord.

Love, Andrea