2021 Miracle

 This family seems to be on the receiving end of miracle babies. Last year we rejoiced in the miracle birth of our granddaughter, Abigail Ruth Stauffer. She is eight months old today, growing nicely, and a delightfully pleasant little girl.

   Last week our third great-grandchild was born and the fact that he is alive is another act of God. Marcus and Irene expected their first child to arrive May 9. When the baby was nine days overdue, labor was induced but not much progress was made. After two days, the doctor decided it's time to do a C-section. They got the baby out but worked for ten minutes to get him to breathe. When they were about ready to give up, he finally breathed.

He was placed in NICU in a cold incubator to prevent seizures and brain swelling. On Monday, May 24, he was slowly warmed up and by evening was disconnected from all life support equipment. He is breathing on his own and tests show he does not have cerebral palsy. He will remain in the hospital a few more days and perhaps be home by the weekend.

I know what it is like to give birth to a baby that does not make a sound. But in our case, we knew our baby was going to be stillborn. I can imagine the sheer terror of those ten minutes for first-time parents waiting for their child to breathe and fearing the worst. 

It is God who gives and takes life. Doctors do what they can, but God gets the credit for giving the breath of life to Elijah Carter Stauffer. After that rough start, we pray he will grow up well and healthy.

A Mother's Way

   I'm a day late for Mother's Day but there is a good reason. I wanted to post this story by Temple Bailey in honor of my mother and couldn't find it---until just now. In July it will be 28 years since my mother died but she and what she taught me live on in my memory. So, it's a day late, but here's to a mother like no other.

   The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked.
   "Yes," her Guide said, "and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But ---," He stopped to smile warmly, "the end will be better than the beginning."

   The young mother was so happy, though, that she could not believe anything could be better than these early years. She played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams. The sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this!"

   Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark. The children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close, covering them with her mantle. Her children said, "Oh Mother, we are not afraid when you are near." 

    The mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day for I have taught my children courage."

    Then the morning came, and there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary. The mother was weary, too, but she kept encouraging her children. "A little patience, and we will be there." So the children continued to climb. When they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother." 

   And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked past the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last. My children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I taught them courage; today I have taught them strength."

   With the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth---clouds of war and hate and evil. The children groped and stumbled. The mother said, "Look up. Lift your eyes past the blackness to the Light."     The children looked up and saw an Everlasting Glory above the strange clouds. It guided them and brought them through the darkness and evil. 

    That night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have helped my children learn to see God."

   The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old, until she was very little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and they walked with courage. When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough they lifted her for she was as light as a feather. At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and a golden gate flung wide.

   The mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. Now I know that the end really is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them."

   The children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

   They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. They said, "We can't see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory."