There's a lot of things that can get quite overwhelming in this crazy world, but I doubt most people would say, that they've been overwhelmed by love. But I can definitely say, Daniel, Baby H, and I, have been overwhelmed by the love of God, that is expressed by our church and family.
Let me explain...
I have always wanted to be a mother, but with my irregular health issues, we weren't sure that was ever going to happen. Also, with losing our jobs last year, we didn't feel financially prepared. I remember chatting with a lady in choir about babies just before I got accidentally pregnant and saying "we just could NOT afford a baby right now...like I know if the Lord provided a child, he would provide for us too, but it is definitely just not an option right now." And her reply went something like this, "but you have all of us and your family around to help and support you. I'm sure if you had a baby, you would have a lot of support from all of us." I have been to a few churches, where her statement would have been just that, a statement, of empty, meaningless words-hypocritical, "we will pray for you"...and nothing more. How much our church has proven her statement!!!
Well, we have been so blessed, and this passage describes it well:
Eph 3:19-21
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
We have known the love of Christ in SO MANY WAYS these last several months...to name a few:
- when we lost our jobs last Oct, several people gave us money and support to get us through a rough couple of months. You who gave will never know how much that meant to us! I hope the Lord richly rewards you in Heaven!
- Our Sunday School teacher helped to find us jobs, one's that we still have and are so thankful for!
- When we moved in the middle of FL July, we had more than enough friends to come and help and have a great, smooth, FUN moving time. I was 5ish months pregnant and didn't have to lift a thing! Such wonderful friends came, we had fun, and just enjoyed our time...from climbing trees, to eating brownies a la mode on the porch.
- Some of my closest friends threw me a lovely little baby shower, where we were so blessed by the gifts received. The food and games were wonderful, and as I looked around the room, and saw such loving friends, it definitely felt like a room of sisters, not random ladies :-)
- We've had a LOT of people donate baby items that have been gently loved already...it has saved us A LOT of money and been really wonderful....I look around around Baby H's nursery, and see all the gifts of both new and used items, and just smile...it is definitely a love-filled room. So many homemade gifts as well! It is really just precious!
- My mom threw a surprise shower, full of friends and family (from both sides, including my sister, who I hadn't seen in 10 months, flew from NJ for the surprise....I still tear up thinking about it....-#pregnantwaterworks)
- We were IMMENSELY blessed by the gifts given....all the baby books, quilts, strollers, baby bath TUBS (yes, there were several given...very clean baby he will be!), etc...The food was delicious, and it was just a really nice shower...Thanks Mommy and Debra! And thank you to all the ladies who helped my mom set it up and clean it up...you have not been forgotten in my "thank you" prayers :-)
- My insurance decided about one month before my money was due to my midwife, that they would NOT cover the costs of the "office visits"...This set us back quite a bit financially...we were praying and trusting God...but honestly, we had no stinking clue where the money would come from. Due to our move and a few other circumstances, the money we HAD for the midwife, we HAD no longer. We just kept praying... Last night, *still choking up as I type this*, we were over our friends' house playing games, and as we went to leave, one of our closest friends handed us a card...and said that they had been raising money for 7 weeks...(and I don't even remember telling people 7 weeks ago that we needed this money...I thought that at most, we told people four weeks ago...) anyways, twice this weekend we had been given money for the balance of the midwife, and it pretty much covers it by 100%, only short by a few dollars. Definition of "mercy" according to Merriam Webster: kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation. Now, it wasn't a "very bad" or "desperate" situation, but it definitely wasn't good, and we were getting desperate...
- 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Matt 5:7
Daniel and I could not afford to have a baby...but we weren't having this baby alone. The Lord has been with us every step of the way...no matter how large or small. We have awesome friends (and family)...and we have an awesome God...that blessed us with these awesome friends and family....we just cannot get over the outpouring of blessing....we are still a little bit in shock, quite honestly...
Ps. 33:8b "stand in awe of Him!"
Love and blessings,
Becca
