Looking at my hands with wonder, I am awed at all the new life I held in them. Every one of those lives matter, but one short life changed mine forever. The specialists said he wouldn’t live, but he lived long enough. Long enough to fulfill his purpose, because we all have a purpose. Don’t fall for the great deception.
Her belly already bulged though it was her first visit to a doctor due to insurance issues. The sonographer smeared warm gel over the taut skin of her abdomen and began to sweep the transducer back and forth. Everyone was mesmerized by the heart playing its constant rhythm; squeeze, relax, squeeze, relax. His facial features were perfectly formed, but inside the skull, the anatomy was scrambled. Nothing about the brain looked normal.
Second opinions followed along with expert consultations and heart-wrenching decisions. Despite the prediction that the baby would not survive the pregnancy, much less delivery, they chose to treasure and celebrate the broken life they were carrying. Then again, I suppose all of us have broken lives.
Sometimes life and death come from the same place
People all over the world prayed for miraculous healing. I marveled at her courage and peace. Their faith was rock solid; mine wasn’t. it was early in my career and I had mixed feelings. Why would they do it? Then I watched that doomed, unborn baby boy transform many lives, mostly mine.
After I cut the cord, I gently laid him on the warmer to watch him die. Blank eyes, no sound, only a beating heart; squeeze, relax, squeeze, relax. i don’t know if he had any consciousness, but I knew he had a soul. There’s no way I can prove that, but I know it as much as I know there is a God. A sovereign God who fearfully created that beautiful baby’s life to change mine.
“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 MSG
They held him and rocked him his whole entire life. The joy he brought to so many is unexplainable. His work was done on this earth, his purpose fulfilled. That little life mattered and it changed mine. In fact, his life changed more lives than most. So did the faith of his parents.
The great deception
So you can tell me that the mom would have been better off is she had not carried a baby with no chance of survival, but I don’t think she would agree. Nobody would agree. His life was beautiful; he was held and treasured and now he is whole. That my friends is the truth; don’t buy the great deception. Live with no regrets.
Desperation and deception
Those most desperate are most vulnerable to the great deception. And who hasn’t been desperate? They believe the lie that it’s for the best and best for them, but they miss the blessing, the blessing of knowing that every life has a purpose, no matter how short.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10a (NKJV)
The thief
More then anything, the enemy wants to steal our purpose. Did he steal yours? Are you crippled by the great deception? Did you make the wrong choice? Well, we all make wrong choices and that’s why we need a savior.
We all make wrong choices, that's why we need a savior Click To Tweet“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV)
The truth about lies
There’s a story I tell whenever I meet a woman who regrets her abortion. I didn’t come up with it and I can’t tell you where I heard it, so my apologies to the unknown author.
A little girl in heaven went to Jesus, climbed into his lap and said,
“Jesus, my mom never even saw me.”
“I know,” said Jesus, “but one day she will see your beautiful face.”“But Jesus, my mom never held me.”
“I know,” said Jesus, “but one day she will scoop you into her arms and hold you close.”
“But Jesus, my mom never ran and played with me.”
“I know,” said Jesus, “but one day you two will have so much fun together.”
“But Jesus, why? Why didn’t my mom see me, hold me or play with me.”
Jesus looked off into the distance, then into her eyes and softly said, “You know, I don’t remember.”
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NLT)
“It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (HCSB)
*Note about privacy: the details of this story are fictitious, though every part of the scenario is real and there was one baby who lived a short time and changed my life.
I love the story – no matter where it came from – and I so NEEDED to read it. Thank you for always speaking your heart and truth.
Vicki
Beautiful and touching
Oh to be able to write like you is a dream of mine
Penny
Beautiful words of truth. ♥
Vickie, this article gave me tears thinking back to 1993 when my precious Nathan passed at birth and the feelings I had of the women who had healthy babies they didn’t even want or plan for to just throw them aside and abandoned in the trash. I grieved for the women who longed for a baby they couldn’t carry and the ones who could aborted theirs out of an inconvenience. Thank you for this article. It touched me so much