My dear friend’s daughter had gone through rough times with her health. So when she discovered she was pregnant, everyone celebrated.
After nine months of eager anticipation, the blessed event occurred. I was shocked when my friend tearfully told me the baby had Downs Syndrome. Needless to say, she was devastated. Her daughter cried all night, refusing to see the baby, and her son-in-law threatened to sue the doctors for not discovering this “defect” sooner through routine testing. If they had known, then they could have “taken measures.” No way could they support a baby who would never reach full potential. Not after all they’d been through.
However, the baby was here so the only recourse was to put her up for adoption. Family members debated whether they should care for the child, but no one made a firm commitment. The devastated young couple took the baby home, informing the hospital that the subject was far from closed. But God does work in mysterious ways.
After less than a month, little Madison solved the dilemma. Her bright blue eyes, filled with wonder and delight whenever a relative picked her up or sang to her, spoke truths the young couple hadn’t understood. Now, four years later, the mother and father are head-over-heels in love with their daughter and exclaim, “Our Maddy is truly a gift from God.” Joyful, smart, and loving, the child brightens any room she is in.
Yes, God is compassionate. We mortals keep forgetting that He knows exactly what He’s doing. After all, things work out for the good. Right?
It is scary to let go and let God. But He really does know what is going on. He really does have our best interests at heart. I am convinced that if this fragile family had known beforehand their baby would be “challenged,” they would have made a most grievous decision. Because they didn’t know and were not able to take “necessary precautions,” they have a delightful little girl who not only has won their hearts, but just possibly has saved their souls.
Our Father is gracious and righteous in His ways. He knows far in advance of our short-sightedness what is best. And it is through His compassion we find that way.
Trust Him. Let go and let God.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
(For more devotions, visit www.christiandevotions.us.)
Thank you for writing this. Birth ""defects"" are not something that somehow slipped by God, or were beyond His control, and ending such a pregnancy constitutes a vote of ""no confidence"" in Him. There is great blessing in accepting what He has chosen for us.
Mercy me, this is magnificent. Thank you for sharing that beautiful testimony. One of my best friends has a Down's Syn. child who is 5 and in kindergarten here. She is so adorable and we love little Sophie very much at our church. God's love pours forth from her heart.
Thank you, Theresa, for this beautiful story of hope and God's faithfulness. As the mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, I give it a heartfelt AMEN! Oh, if we would only trust him more.