Baby Blessing

 

Mary, a sweet friend of mine, used to be one of the most vibrant, enthusiastic worshippers in our church congregation. However, when my family and I returned after two years in the States (stuck due to covid), Mary was depressed and severely withdrawn. She had stopped going to church and wouldn't leave her house, sometimes not even leaving her bedroom. God placed a burden on my heart to visit Mary, chatting with her and trying to speak the truth of God's word into the darkness she was experiencing. I was surprised the first time I went to visit her that she was quite chatty. I took this as a good sign and visited her throughout the summer, letting her talk about whatever she felt like, usually reminiscing about school or dreaming up business opportunities. 

Eventually, Mary admitted to her parents that she was pregnant. Her parents, although saddened by the news, were gracious, kind and supportive to Mary. I learned via my own parents about Mary's pregnancy long before she told me about it. Mary's courage astounded me. More so, I saw her faith begin to grow. She talked of God giving her strength (for a while she was too weak to leave her room) and protecting her child. 

We were overjoyed by the news on Friday, December 1, that Mary had birthed a baby boy!

What a precious, surreal, beautiful, sacred moment to hold the child for whom you have prayed for with tears and fervency!

God truly protected both Mary and her son. Mary told me that one time she was thinking about how to get money for an abortion, but a voice sounded from her bedroom door, telling her that if she tried to abort her child, she too would die. Although at first I was taken aback by the seemingly condemning nature that God- for both of us believe this voice was from God- sent His message in, I now see the beauty in God firmly steering Mary away from sliding into a pit of death, further depression and hopelessness.

Another God-ordained phenomenon surround this boy's birth: Grace and I started a four week teaching about the value of human life from the moment of conception to the day God sovereignly takes that individual to heaven. Hours after first laying eyes on Mary's baby, I was blessed to teach about the inherent value of human life because each human is made in God's image and Christ considered each individual worth dying to save.

Mary, baby and Mary's mom, Christine.

"You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

For you,

o child,

have I prayed

Grace and I LOVE when our friends have babies! Yes, it's a mix when the child is born out of wedlock. The sin of that hurts my heart. And I know God is still gracious; He does not hold the sin of Mary against her innocent child. He created, crafted and perfectly knit together her baby boy. Additionally, I know without a doubt that God offers Mary forgiveness in the washing of His blood. He calls her holy and precious in His sight.

On another note, it's always entertaining (although kind of sad, too) to visit maternity wards in rural Uganda. All the women lay on beds with their babies, only a foot or two from the next bed (meaning, they all watch us visit with our friend). A chicken ran through the room a couple times. Only one nurse was present to serve all their needs. Makes me stop and give thanks for the blessings God has provided in my life- things that are not mine but His.

After visiting Mary, we went to the market next door to pick up lunch.

Mary came home later Saturday evening. On Sunday, Grace, Faith (another friend of ours) and I went to visit the new baby again. The hospitality of folks here never ceases to amaze me. Mary welcomed us all into her bedroom, where we- along with her sisters, mom and some neighbor kids, sat around on mats or the bed. It's a true open-armed embrace of others into one's life and space. How wonderful that Christ opens His arms to us in the same way!

Together

silence

laughter

side by

side

here

Bathing the baby- so cute!

Seeing his eyes for the first time!

"For He (God) chose us in Him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves... In Him we are chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we... might be for the praise of His glory."

When space is little inside, window watch!

staring in

included

still

We were served milk tea, rolls and sweet potatoes.

(Sorry, I didn't get a picture when all the food was set out; the rolls are still on the mat there, though😄)

Luka and two of our guy friends stopped by as well. It was incredibly precious to see Tom rigidly hold the baby boy, nervous he would drop him. A man so strong and agile, now brought to nervousness by holding a new life. New life is powerful, it brings us to awe!

Luka held the baby too, after some coaxing. What a sweet brother God's blessed me with! Luka held the baby like a pro, having experience with Makai.

So far the baby doesn't have a name, because Mary is waiting to hear from the baby's father- they're calling him "the husband"- what names he likes. Mary wants to name the baby Joshua, after my dad. 

Please be praying that both Mary and baby will remain healthy, as their family has suffered a lot recently from illness. Also, pray that Mary will encounter God powerfully during this time, and that He will lead her to return to church. Finally, pray that Mary and the baby's dad will reunite in a covenant marriage.