Many years, love!
On top of Mother's Day and Pentecost, we celebrated our sixth child's birthday this weekend. He is six years old now. Due to the fact that I am busy, exhausted and trying like the dickens to get school done this year, I am reposting something I wrote about him last year. The picture of him in the train is when he was three. The other photos are from his birthday, when he got his requested "buzz". The child is easy to please, as he wanted a buzz for his birthday. So here is the reposted love story of this child.
This particular child was like a life raft for me at a very scary time. I will be forever grateful for him. Of course, all my children were well timed (not by me) gifts, each in their own way. But this life raft I am still holding onto, and so here is the rest of the story:
This is my sweet three year old son. He is a joy, and, I believe, a miracle.
It all began 4 years ago, when my dh quit his job, for ethical reasons. He had a healthy bonus coming, so to avoid conflict of interest, he quit prior to finding a different job. He also was getting fatigued in his chosen profession, and thought he might try something else. Didn't happen. Long story short, this ended up with our bonus tied up in court, with dh having no job, and us having to deal with all the ugliness of a law suit.
Then, on September 10, 2001, dh opened a business account with most of the money we had left, and started his own business, as the luxury of doing something else had vanished. Of course, we all know what happened on September 11th, and all the fear and grief that accompanied that grim day.
On September 12th, I found out I was expecting my 6th child. This wasn't in the plan. This shouldn't have happened according to my charts. This just plain, old shouldn't have happened. Was I being cursed? Punished? How could God do this to me?? I mean, I live trying to trust God, remain open to life, yet could there be any worse timet to have a baby?: WHAT WAS HE THINKING??? This is what went through my head as I lay awake, night after night, and fought sleep day after day.
The pregnancy dragged on. I had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, had to switch insurance providers to save money, and therefore had to pay for the birth ourself. Meanwhile, dh's business is tanking in the post-9/11 stock market mess.
This is a really long story.
So I will skip most of it, except to say that God took the most exquisite care of us. We never had a need that wasn't filled. Somehow, we managed to go nearly two years with no income, and suffer no permanent repercussions. We found how many dear friends we had in our life. We found that our church was a refuge and a strength for us. We were able to turn to family for help without shame. And, we got our dear, sweet son, who couldn't have come at a better time. He soothed my soul, gave me joy, gave me the sweet simplicity of a new, lovely baby, at a time when the world seemed so complicated and dark.
People often assume that our seven children were a choice for us, you know, good for you, if that's what makes you happy, and all that. No, this really wasn't what I set out to do. I didn't have any desire for baby number 6, thought I was being punished, and was beside myself. When he was born, I realized that God did know better, and knew exactly what I would need at exactly the right time.
Now, things are better, dh's business is still surviving, we have another baby, and all the legal and financial mess is ancient history. And we still have this little precious boy, a gift, and a constant reminder to me of God's tender care.
(P.S. As an addendum to this old post, I can say that since I wrote this post, we have had more upheavals and hardships. More than I care to recount here, but even when we revisited the difficult times, this boy was a consolation to me, to know that my life is in God's hands, and the value of someone's very existance is worth far more than worldly, material satisfaction. How good of God to give me a living Testament to His love, one I can hug and kiss, and live with, and watch grow in love. God is good!)
This particular child was like a life raft for me at a very scary time. I will be forever grateful for him. Of course, all my children were well timed (not by me) gifts, each in their own way. But this life raft I am still holding onto, and so here is the rest of the story:
This is my sweet three year old son. He is a joy, and, I believe, a miracle.
It all began 4 years ago, when my dh quit his job, for ethical reasons. He had a healthy bonus coming, so to avoid conflict of interest, he quit prior to finding a different job. He also was getting fatigued in his chosen profession, and thought he might try something else. Didn't happen. Long story short, this ended up with our bonus tied up in court, with dh having no job, and us having to deal with all the ugliness of a law suit.
Then, on September 10, 2001, dh opened a business account with most of the money we had left, and started his own business, as the luxury of doing something else had vanished. Of course, we all know what happened on September 11th, and all the fear and grief that accompanied that grim day.
On September 12th, I found out I was expecting my 6th child. This wasn't in the plan. This shouldn't have happened according to my charts. This just plain, old shouldn't have happened. Was I being cursed? Punished? How could God do this to me?? I mean, I live trying to trust God, remain open to life, yet could there be any worse timet to have a baby?: WHAT WAS HE THINKING??? This is what went through my head as I lay awake, night after night, and fought sleep day after day.
The pregnancy dragged on. I had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, had to switch insurance providers to save money, and therefore had to pay for the birth ourself. Meanwhile, dh's business is tanking in the post-9/11 stock market mess.
This is a really long story.
So I will skip most of it, except to say that God took the most exquisite care of us. We never had a need that wasn't filled. Somehow, we managed to go nearly two years with no income, and suffer no permanent repercussions. We found how many dear friends we had in our life. We found that our church was a refuge and a strength for us. We were able to turn to family for help without shame. And, we got our dear, sweet son, who couldn't have come at a better time. He soothed my soul, gave me joy, gave me the sweet simplicity of a new, lovely baby, at a time when the world seemed so complicated and dark.
People often assume that our seven children were a choice for us, you know, good for you, if that's what makes you happy, and all that. No, this really wasn't what I set out to do. I didn't have any desire for baby number 6, thought I was being punished, and was beside myself. When he was born, I realized that God did know better, and knew exactly what I would need at exactly the right time.
Now, things are better, dh's business is still surviving, we have another baby, and all the legal and financial mess is ancient history. And we still have this little precious boy, a gift, and a constant reminder to me of God's tender care.
(P.S. As an addendum to this old post, I can say that since I wrote this post, we have had more upheavals and hardships. More than I care to recount here, but even when we revisited the difficult times, this boy was a consolation to me, to know that my life is in God's hands, and the value of someone's very existance is worth far more than worldly, material satisfaction. How good of God to give me a living Testament to His love, one I can hug and kiss, and live with, and watch grow in love. God is good!)
posted by Renee at Monday, May 12, 2008
3 Comments:
Wishing him happiness and good health!
God grant him - and you all- Many Years and many blessings !
Happy belated Mother's Day!
and AS IF you didn't have a brain in your head, you write some of the most beautiful reflections on life/love/faith/family ever, I've just been writing papers that no one but me and a few people who are paid to ever will :)
miss you all - am hoping to attend a conference in Chi-town in June, though downward economic pressures are making that seem ever more unlikely... but will be in touch if somehow a miracle happens ;)
give my love to all
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