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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

God reminds me of His faithfulness.

’ll never forget the day that we found out that we were gong to have our first baby. I was only 20 years old and my wife was 18 and we had only been married a little over four months. I was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Millington, Tenn. and making $199.00 per month. We lived in military housing and our duplex was among approximately 10 duplexes and was segregated from all other military housing. We almost lived in the back door of the hospital. In fact it was much nicer than all the other housing and we were blessed to live there. At that time, the hospital was an old World War 11 barracks type of building and had several wings which spread out from a main building. The maternity wing was almost directly in line with our house. We were very excited about becoming a Mom and Dad and I’m sure there were times that both of us were also somewhat afraid but none the less we were happy just knowing that Mom was healthy and every time she went for a check up, the report was our baby girl was also healthy. I remember going to Liberty Market close by and buying a blue outfit because we didn’t know at that time if it was a boy or girl. It only cost like less than $2.00 but that was enough with the salary I made. Seems like those 9 months was like 9 days and it was time for having that precious baby. Being a Military Hospital, and also being many years ago, they kept both Mom and baby in the hospital longer than they do today. I’m telling you all this to say, I remember the day after our daughter was born, that I had gotten off work, having stopped by the maternity ward to see my precious wife and precious daughter. Nothing unusual, just the regular talk and being anxious about when they can come home and how that will go. I’ve never been a Dad before and my wife had never been a Mom before and here we were, Mom and Dad and all that comes with it. A precious little girl with glows of auburn strains of hair. Beautiful by anyone’s point of view and especially her Mom and Dad. I went home that day thinking about what can I do to get ready for this new way of life. Everything had changed in an instant. One minute Mom is pregnant and the next here is a precious little girl and I must say both her and her Mom were beautiful to me. But what can I do to get ready. I could clean the house and I did as best I knew how. I remember going to the bedroom that we had decorated for our precious little girl and inside her bed was a baby rattle. I picked it up and made it make it’s noise and for some reason, I just started crying. I can’t tell you why, but I remember crying almost uncontrollably. We had just received the greatest gift any Mom and Dad could ever hope to receive and she was coming home tomorrow. I was scared to say the least and I wanted disparately to be the best Dad in the world, but I was just so scared. I also had to go to the grocery store because my Mom and Dad were coming down to help us out and perhaps even give us some pointers on babies and how to do the things we had never had to do before.

Yesterday, I met with a young couple who had their baby with them. It was a boy and he had blue outfit on and he began to cry and as he did, his Mom picked him up and a baby rattle feel out of the blanket that was around him. It was the same baby rattle that I had picked up the day after our daughter was born. It had the same design and same Y as a handle. I can’t tell you why but all of this came back to me immediately and it was “da-ja vu”.

Why did I remember vividly all that I have written about this? Why after 43 years, did my mind remember as if it happened yesterday? If you knew me, you would know that I don’t remember yesterday in most cases. Well, I believe it was God who caused me to remember this because He wanted me to just thank Him again for the blessings of my children. You see, as I wiped away the tears, that day in her little bedroom, I promised God that I would do the very best I could to be a good Dad but that I knew I was going to need His help and I begged him for it. You see, I didn’t live up to my part of that bargain, but God did and He just wanted to remind me how faithful He had been to me and my precious family. Yes, that precious auburn hair little girl is now grown and has 3 children of own and her oldest son is scheduled to get married in May and perhaps they will have children and Lisa and Mitchell will have to go and spend some time with them just to show them how to take care of something they’ve never had to do before and I’m trusting that they too will commit to God to be the best Mom and Dad that they can be. I know his Mom and Dad are the very best because she is that little auburn haired girl with a little blue outfit and a rattle with the Y handle.

8 comments:

BethAnne said...

First of all, before Lisa beats me to it, I would like to note that she is not quite 43 yet, but she is so close you might as well call her that.........Secondly, I think it was smart and sensitive of you not to mention that I am your favorite daughter - could cause some hurt feelings if you know what I mean ;-) *wink*

Sue said...

Eddie,
As I read this, I was SOOOO touched. But I have to admit, I kept thinking, "why couldn't the father of MY beautiful baby girl have felt those same feelings? Why did he leave us both when she was 5 years old. I know the reason...we didn't have the Lord in our lives. Thanks be to God that as a result of that heartbreak of divorce and ripping apart of my family, that God used it to turn me back to Him Because of it, my daughter was raised in a Bible believing church and even though she is not living for the Lord right now...she KNOWS and I claim the promise that "when she is old, she will not depart from it."

Anyway, thanks for your heartfelt post. Maybe a Father somewhere who is thinking about leaving his family will read this and reconsider...

Greg P. said...

That was a beautiful tribute Eddie. I felt the same way when my oldest son was born and again when my younger son was born.

I just asked God to help me give my best to the lives he entrusted to my care. I also fell short years later, but, God picked me up and helped me to live for Him. I'm still a piece of work.

Thanks for that post.

Greg P. said...

Regarding my last comment, "I'm still a piece of work". What I meant was I'm still a work in progress, although, I can be a piece of work sometimes also.

alliekat said...

I can't resist a rebuttal to Bethanne's comment. Let's just get one thing straight, I am only 42 as of today and have several months until I am 43. AND...just a reminder that the reason he has such vivid memories of my birth and not yours is the same reason that I have told you for years.....you were ADOPTED...from aliens!!!! And that is all I have to say about that!

Kelly S. said...

Eddie-
I just wanted to tell you that my husband just got home from his first trip to FBCW for the men's conference. He LOVED it. and can't wait for next year.

I just had to say THANKS what a blessing for our whole family.

AnnaElizabeth said...

Granddaddy, this was a sweet post! I loooooooooove youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

:-)

Mommyluann said...

Ok, in Lisa's defense, leave her alone ( yes I mean you Beth....you'll be 42 creeping up on 43 one day too!) I'm with ya Lisa..I turn 43 in July...and not a day sooner than myt birthday.

Loved the blog post, Eddie.