Responding In Faith

UNIQUE

How utterly unique you are-

How special in God’s eyes;

God knew and planned you all along-

you weren’t a surprise.

God planned you ‘ere the world began,

before the sun was formed,

God purposed what your life would be

before your soul was born.

There is none other just like you,

nor will there ever be,

for only one God made like you

throughout eternity…

-Sharon Roberts

This poem appeared in a Mennonite publication last year sometime (I can’t remember the name of the publication or date…sorry!). I kept it in my Bible for the longest time. I don’t know the author of this publication, but I imagine she was inspired by Psalm 139.

Today is a special day.  It is my Hannah’s 9th birthday!  Happy Birthday my special girl.  It is hard to believe that she is nine years old.  I remember so well going to the hospital with her.  The beginning of March Madness.   I guess it was a blessing that she came three weeks early!  Otherwise I may have been put on hold for basketball season!!

I have pictures of Russell holding Hannah at home in his favorite recliner explaining to her about basketball at the early age of 2 weeks old!  (Yes, Johnny, Russell starts brainwashing them to be KY fans at a very early age!)

Although Hannah was three weeks early, she weighed 9pounds 2 1/2 oz.  She was a breach baby.  Just like Anthony, I delivered her by c-section.  The doctors kept telling me that she was going to be small…well, surprise!!!  Russell was more nervous with Hannah then he was with Anthony.  I think it was because he knew that Hannah was breach and he was worried about complications.  Not to mention he was taking an embryology class that focused on all the things that could go wrong in a pregnancy!!

I was also on bed rest with Hannah for 3 months.  I had to take medication around the clock every three hours to stop contractions.  That was a fun time!  But through it all, God was knitting this little beauty together in my womb.  He was forming every part of her.  Every intricate detail came together just the way it was supposed to.  When she was born I saw God’s perfection in this small child.  For God does not create mistakes.  He created Hannah with a purpose.

Each of my children were knit together inside of me.  It amazes me how God was able to perform this beautiful miracle inside of me eleven times….so far!  Yes, even my adopted children were knit inside of me.  God planted them in my heart!

Each of our children are unique in their own special ways.  I know that God has a special plan for each and everyone of them.  I know not what that plan is, but I do know that when the time is right, God will reveal it to each of them.

God is beginning that work in my son, Anthony.  I truly believe that going to Liberia was just the beginning for him.  God has stirred something in his young heart that will continue to grow and grow as long as Anthony is willing to say, “Yes, Lord.”  I can’t predict what that plan is, I can just sense that something is growing in his heart.  He came back from Liberia a different child or should I say, young man?

It is hard being a mommy.  I am always wondering if I am teaching the kids the right things? Am I pushing them too hard or maybe too little?  Am I preparing them enough for their future? Am I encouraging them enough?  I could become consumed with all of this.  I have to trust in the Lord for many of these things.  I know that God is taking each of them and molding and shaping them into the persons they are to become.  Each of them is unique.  Each of them has a unique road laid out before them.  They are God’s children.  Each of them are wonderfully made!  I am so thankful to my Lord for blessing me with so many beautiful children!

Lord, I thank You for making each of my children so unique.  I thank you for knitting them together in both my heart and my womb.  Each have been birthed through me in different ways.  Each one has been special.  Thank you for entrusting me to be a Mother Of Many!  Help me to guide our children and train them up in the way they should go.  Give me strength through the hard times.  Give me laughter.  Give me endurance to finish the race.  Give me understanding for the things that I do not understand.  Protect our family with a thorned hedge of protection.  Bless this family Lord.  Amen.

Hannah creating a self portrait that is “uniquely” her very own!