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When Maggie found out
that she was pregnant, she already had five children.?
It was 1920, and the world was recovering from its
First World War.? Maggie's husband was employed, and
he worked very hard to keep food on the table. ? One
more mouth.? Dear God, thought Maggie, how can I carry
this child and bring it into an uncertain world??
Maggie sat on the doctor's exam table and sobbed out
her pain and fear.? One more mouth.? The doctor was a
kind man.? He not only had delivered Maggie's
children, but he had also delivered Maggie.? He knew
how Maggie and her husband scraped by on his meager
earnings.? He knew that another child would stretch
their budget to extreme proportions, and Maggie was
already depressed.
"I'll tell you what,
Maggie," the doctor said, compassion filling his
voice.? "You change into this hospital gown, and I
will relieve you of this child.? You need not even see
its face."
Sadly, Maggie, seeing
no alternative except abortion, climbed into the white
gown and lay down on the table.? The doctor left the
room giving Maggie some time to herself.? Maggie began
to explain to God how much she did not want to offend
Him, but she saw no other way to solve her situation.?
No one would know, except Maggie, her doctor, and
God.? No one knew that Maggie was pregnant, not even
her husband.? I don't know what took place in that
room, between Maggie and God, but when the doctor
returned, Maggie was sitting on the edge of the exam
table, fully clothed.
"I've changed my
mind, Doctor.? I will have this child, and let God
take care of the finances."
"Bless you, Maggie,"
the doctor smiled, "I'm not surprised by your
decision."
Four months later, my
grandmother gave birth to a perfect premature baby.?
She was small enough to fit into a cigar box.? My
grandmother named her Helen, after the Greek word,
meaning "light."? She believed that the light that had
filled the exam room where she had her conversation
with God, was the One who had given Helen to them as a
gift.
My mother was barely
five years old when Helen was born.? She adored her
little sister.? And four months later, when Helen
died, my mother and her mother mourned, then, and for
the rest of their lives.? My grandmother believed that
God took Helen, not as a punishment, but He sent her
as a gift.? Helen, being premature in a post-World War
I environment, without today's conveniences, had a
short life, but she had a blessed life.? Both my
grandmother and my mother insisted that each child
deserves that chance at life.
So, when I lay,
bedridden, throughout my last pregnancy, I thought of
my Aunt Helen whose short life blessed all who knew
her.? I was not expected to live through my labor and
delivery.? The reasons, now, are not important.? I
just wanted my baby to have a chance at life, and if
it meant my life in the process, then so be it.
Helen Elizabeth was
born on September 30, 1974.? She was not "perfect."?
She had to struggle against severe jaundice.? She was
born with two clubbed feet.? She was born with a
neurological disease, dystonia, which only began to
manifest itself in her teens.? The jaundice cleared up
enough for me to be able to take Helen home with me.?
She wore braces on her feet for nearly a year, and
they became the prettiest little feet, I've ever
seen.? The neurological disease escapes the notice of
the curious, although it is progressive.
A rare beauty, Helen
is brilliant and funny.? Her chances for success are
limitless. I am so thankful to God for Helen.? She is
a wonderful daughter and friend.? Her devotion, her
beauty, and her faith are a gift beyond my heart's
imagination.? Helen.? A gift of God.? A gift of life!
Jaye Lewis
Jaye Lewis is an
award winning Christian writer who looks at life from
a unique perspective, celebrating the spiritual and
the miraculous in the day to day.? Gift of Life is a
true story which will appear in Jaye's soon to be
released book, Entertaining Angels.? Jaye is
contributing author for the recently released Chicken
Soup for the Recovering Soul and Chicken Soup for
Every Mom's Soul.? Jaye lives with her family in the
beautiful mountains of Virginia.? Jaye's website can
be visited at
www.entertainingangels.org? Contact Jaye Lewis at
jlewis@smyth.net |
