And so my life went. I was in the depths of depression. I was married to a man who had married the woman in me not the mother in me. He stayed by my side as I sank deeper and deeper into despair. All along I remained in prayer. One particular evening I was on my knees praying my prayer for a baby when God interrupted me just as I began. His crystal clear voice came into my spirit and it said, "Get up, get up now! You have made your request before me and I have taken care of it." I was frozen in place. I got off my knees and never again prayed for a baby.
I had made my promise to God long before but I had one request of God in return. I had pleaded with God not to allow me to get pregnant and then not be able to birth a healthy baby in turn. I told him I would wait as long as I needed but please no miscarriages. I would be devastated if that were to happen after all I had been through.
In 1998 things were increasingly stressful in my life and marriage. I had become completely attached to only one thing.....conception. My laser focus was causing me to lash out a lot at my husband. After a period of not talking much I decided we needed a break from our familiar surrounds. After three years of treatments and various procedures, I had also recently been taken off all fertility treatments in order to give my body a chance to rest. I was however scheduled for another surgery mid-September.
Off we went to Washington DC. We had a restful quiet time together. We went on walks, ate out and simply enjoyed the distractions from chaos that I had largely introduced into our relationship. Upon my return to our home in Atlanta, a short time later I left on a business trip to New Orleans. My trip was cut short because of Hurricane George. New Orleans was evacuated. My boss, coworkers and I drove in the last rental car in the city 13 hours back to Atlanta. It was rough going all the way home. That following morning I was scheduled for surgery.
I arrived to the fertility clinic early in order to take one final mandatory pregnancy test before surgery and anesthesia. To me it was routine since I had just taken another test a week before. My husband did not even come in. I told him I would be right back and to keep the car running. We would go from the clinic to the hospital.
I was getting dressed after the quick test and nurse Nancy came to me and said, "My dear, you are pregnant!" I said, "What?! You are not kidding are you?" Nancy replied, "We do not kid like that here." I fainted.
When I got to my feet I went outside and leaned into the passenger window where my husband waited. I said, "Honey we are pregnant!" He replied, "You are kidding?" I yelled, "Nope!" I saw Nancy coming and yelled, "Isn't it true Nancy?" She smiled and yelled back, "No kidding." My husband was so overcome his foot came off the brake and the car started rolling forward pulling me with it.
When they told the surgeon who was waiting for me at the hospital she said, "After 25 years as a doctor I am reminded once again, it is not me who is in charge."
And so you have it. We were going to have a baby! Baby Hannah. My promise to God and HIS promise back to me.
Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.”
My promise was like Hannah's. If God were to give me a child, I would name him Samuel or if a girl Hannah as a testimony to God's promises kept. I promised to share my testimony of HIS goodness always. I promised to raise the child to know him as God.
Every year on Hannah's birthday I share the story of her birth with her again.
Blessings!
Friends the like and tweet buttons are not showing due to technology issues. However click on them because they do register. THANKS
This post is PART 3. For a link to Part 1 please click HERE - Part 2 click HERE
I had made my promise to God long before but I had one request of God in return. I had pleaded with God not to allow me to get pregnant and then not be able to birth a healthy baby in turn. I told him I would wait as long as I needed but please no miscarriages. I would be devastated if that were to happen after all I had been through.
In 1998 things were increasingly stressful in my life and marriage. I had become completely attached to only one thing.....conception. My laser focus was causing me to lash out a lot at my husband. After a period of not talking much I decided we needed a break from our familiar surrounds. After three years of treatments and various procedures, I had also recently been taken off all fertility treatments in order to give my body a chance to rest. I was however scheduled for another surgery mid-September.
Off we went to Washington DC. We had a restful quiet time together. We went on walks, ate out and simply enjoyed the distractions from chaos that I had largely introduced into our relationship. Upon my return to our home in Atlanta, a short time later I left on a business trip to New Orleans. My trip was cut short because of Hurricane George. New Orleans was evacuated. My boss, coworkers and I drove in the last rental car in the city 13 hours back to Atlanta. It was rough going all the way home. That following morning I was scheduled for surgery.
I arrived to the fertility clinic early in order to take one final mandatory pregnancy test before surgery and anesthesia. To me it was routine since I had just taken another test a week before. My husband did not even come in. I told him I would be right back and to keep the car running. We would go from the clinic to the hospital.
I was getting dressed after the quick test and nurse Nancy came to me and said, "My dear, you are pregnant!" I said, "What?! You are not kidding are you?" Nancy replied, "We do not kid like that here." I fainted.
When I got to my feet I went outside and leaned into the passenger window where my husband waited. I said, "Honey we are pregnant!" He replied, "You are kidding?" I yelled, "Nope!" I saw Nancy coming and yelled, "Isn't it true Nancy?" She smiled and yelled back, "No kidding." My husband was so overcome his foot came off the brake and the car started rolling forward pulling me with it.
When they told the surgeon who was waiting for me at the hospital she said, "After 25 years as a doctor I am reminded once again, it is not me who is in charge."
And so you have it. We were going to have a baby! Baby Hannah. My promise to God and HIS promise back to me.
Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.”
My promise was like Hannah's. If God were to give me a child, I would name him Samuel or if a girl Hannah as a testimony to God's promises kept. I promised to share my testimony of HIS goodness always. I promised to raise the child to know him as God.
Every year on Hannah's birthday I share the story of her birth with her again.
Blessings!
Friends the like and tweet buttons are not showing due to technology issues. However click on them because they do register. THANKS
This post is PART 3. For a link to Part 1 please click HERE - Part 2 click HERE
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