Hope for Baby Bennett: The sweetness of answered prayer

Friday, March 4, 2011

The sweetness of answered prayer

(Click photo to enlarge.)

All the while our sweet babies were fighting for their lives in the CTICU of Children's Hospital Los Angeles last spring, Dana and I prayed for the day that we might have a playdate outside of the hospital, that our babies might live to see that day. They did. That day finally came...last week. (For the record, both of our babies have been out of the hospital for a while now, but we couldn't manage to get them both healthy at the same time until last week.) A long time coming for sure, but it was so worth it.

Praise God. Praise Him indeed for this answered prayer. And praise Him for the friendship between Dana and I, a friendship born of adversity, but one which has blossomed into so much more. And the friendship between Dana's mom and my mom, who can understand one another in only the way a mother who has stood by helplessly and watched her daughter hurt profoundly for her granchild can. Praise Him indeed. We are so very very blessed.

(You can read more about the incredible Addie in my posts last May - as she struggled to recover from surgery and fought for her life in the cticu and when she moved to the step down floor.)

2 comments:

AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 9:02 AM
AMY!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
DANA
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ShannonMarch 5, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Heart friend playdates are the best! :) Glad both of those cuties were finally well at the same time!
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The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."