Category Archives: Being a Friend

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Story Time

Everyone loves a good story. Be honest now, remember the last time you were at a baby shower (yesterday for me) with a bunch of women –  many with a birthing story to tell. It is amazing! Anyone who has had a child has a story – some are funny, some painful, some are hard to believe, some can’t remember anything because they were drugged, and some are sadly tragic. Yet each story ends with a birth. My friend Carol, a long time labor and delivery nurse, says that the saddest births are those that end in a still- born delivery. Dear friends of ours lost a baby soon after she was born and I remember what a painful time that was.  After nine months of anticipation and planning all the hopes and dreams of sharing that new life die with the death of that baby.

Sharing these stories, good and bad, happy and sad keep alive the memories of these precious little lives however brief. Sharing the stories of those babies who did not live or had very short lives allows future children to acknowledge that their life is a gift – not a given.

Children love to hear stories about their birth and early years. The story gives each child a sense of belonging and family heritage that is important as they form their self image. This is important for adoptive children as well. The fact that they were chosen by the adoptive parents and the story of the effort that those parents made to include them in the family will help those adopted to feel every bit as loved and valued as biological children. The shower yesterday was for an adopted little girl. The testimony that her mother shared is a lovely story of God’s grace and faithfulness in the adoptive family’s life as well as in the life of that precious little girl whose birth mother chose life.

This is a time of the year when many of us celebrate the sanctity of human life. As we do so, we remember that each life is ordained by God and so precious in His sight. The following verses were written by the Psalmist before there were x-rays, ultrasounds, or CAT scans. Yet they acknowledge what we now can see through scientific techonology – what grows inside the womb is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.

Psalm 139:13-16

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

This is a story we must tell our children and grandchildren. Each of them is made in the image of God and as their lives unfold, the story of their lives has been written in God’s book – planned by the God of the universe.

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Slow Down, Going Too Fast!

I was one of those children who constantly fell and skinned my knees. I would have scabs on top of scabs, and because I injured the same places, they took some time to heal. I still have scars on my knees as reminders of those many falls. As I got older, I became more coordinated, but I must admit that I have never been what one would call graceful. Yet the falls mainly occurred because I was going too fast. I moved ahead of the ability of my feet and legs to balance my body.

We have three grandsons who all began walking in the past few months. It has been fun to watch (one by video) each one navigate the world on two legs. They have teetered and fallen, gotten up and fallen again. But they haven’t given up! They are so proud of themselves when they reach the outstretched arms waiting for them! What if they had given up when they fell repeatedly? What if they had refused to try walking again because it hurt when they fell?

Our older grandchildren are 6, 4, 3 and 2 – 2’s. They all enjoy running outside, which greatly pleases me. Still I find myself reminding them to “be careful”, “slow down” and other warnings that come to mind. I don’t want them to get hurt, especially when running down hill and going too fast. Recently I watched as one started down the path to the barn at a run and no sooner had I said ” SLOW DOWN” then they fell and skinned their hands and knees. I wanted to prevent their painful fall, yet it would mean denying them access to much of the world around them

As parents we want to protect our children from harm, especially from things that hurt us when we were young. Yet, we are powerless to prevent all of the possible injuries that loom in our childrens’ futures. We can encourage them to slow down and be careful about choices they make. Helping our children learn to slow down may prevent impulsive decisions which often lead to regret. Helping our children learn this at a young age will serve them well throughout their lives.

James 1:19-21 (NIV)                                                                                                                                                                    19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

As our children get older, going too fast can be a big concern if they….

  • drive too fast
  • behave sexually “too fast”
  • get angry too fast

The above verses encourage us to be “slow to speak”, and “slow to become angry.”  Wouldn’t our world be a better place if we ALL did that? Let’s decide to slow down and model behavior that honors our Heavenly Father and shows a positive example to our children.

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Comfort in the Storm

We attended the party this weekend celebrating ONE year for our twin grandsons. It is hard to believe that a year has passed. God has been so faithful. One year ago I was at school teaching a class of high school art when I answered the phone. Our daughter had just had an ultra sound and the doctor was concerned about the size of one of the boys. It appeared that one was significantly bigger then the other and that maybe the larger one was taking nourishment from his smaller sibling. The decision was made to induce labor, even though it was five and one half weeks before their due date. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to assure our daughter that God was in control and we could trust Him. As I got off the phone, you could have heard a pin drop (very unusual in the art classroom!) All the students’  eyes were on me  – I had to say something – they could tell that the phone call had upset me.

Using a voice choked with tears, I explained that my daughter was going to deliver twin babies early and that I was concerned for her and the health of the babies. I asked them to pray for her and the babies and to continue to work since I would be preparing lessons . I told the class I would be leaving shortly to go and be there with our daughter. As I tried to focus on lesson preparations for the next few days – I sensed someone by my desk. I looked up to see two of my senior art students standing quietly, waiting to get my attention. They are twins and as I stood to talk to them, they came around and hugged me. “Remember Mrs. Woody, we were born early and only weighed 2 pounds each. See, we turned out fine!!” Tears filled my eyes as I looked at these two lovely, talented young ladies who were able to be living testimonies of hope just when I needed it. It was a comfort to see them healthy and bright at 18 years old.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Hearing those encouraging words from my students and knowing dear friends and family were praying was such a comfort. As a mother and grandmother, I was so very concerned. Yet for our daughter and son-in-law, it was a whirlwind of decision and activity. They demonstrated trust in God and loving support of each other. The twins were safely delivered and after short stays in the hospital NICU, they were able to come home. The above verses share one purpose for the things we suffer – so that we can comfort others. In this fallen world, no one escapes suffering.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had a very busy, blessed year. In the years to come, they will be able to comfort others facing early and emergency births.

God does not waste the opportunties He gives us to learn to trust Him. His desire is that we share the hope, comfort and peace that can only come from God. I am so thankful for the many who have shared Godly comfort with me over the years.