Perspective

What an amazing few days this has been!  Most of you reading this are already aware of the situation with Lori and Abigail.  I want to share with you an encounter that the Lord orchestrated yesterday with an amazing couple.

Mothers of babies in the NICU are encouraged to provide mama’s milk for their children.  The hospital provides easily recognized bottles for this purpose, so the hallways and elevators between the mother/baby wing and the NICU are often witnesses to parents (usually dads) performing this delivery mission.

Yesterday, I encountered a man carrying these bottles and walking beside his apparent bride.  These two had a presence of contentment and joy that made it easy strike up a conversation.  Within moments, I was amazed and praising God along with them.  What made this encounter so meaningful was the fact that their baby had been born at 24 weeks — 3 weeks less than the conventional 27 week “age of viability.”  Baby “B” weighed in at less than 1 pound.

During the conversation, Mrs. B explained her attitude and expressed her confidence that the Lord is sovereign and that Baby B’s life, regardless of its duration, would glorify God.  Indeed, through her short life several people had been reminded or made aware that there is a greater authority, a greater purpose, a greater love that can only be expressed through miracles.  We prayed together right then in the middle of the hallway of the NICU, because we could not wait for privacy to express our praise and thankfulness to a wonderful loving God.

As of today, Baby B is still with us, but struggling.  Her father shared tears with us today as he described urgent moments that should remind us all of the thin thread that suspends us all above our eternal fate.  I am thankful for having met this family and for the privilege of fellowship with them.  I am thankful for the perspective that I see being lived out in the lives of godly people such as Mr. and Mrs. B — that this life is not to be lived for ourselves, but for the purpose set before us by a loving God and to do so with joyful gratitude.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.                                                            Psalm 100 (ESV)

Advertisement