While all of this is super exciting, I don't want to overshadow the importance of this race. There are thousands of amazing causes that races help support. This particular race helps others give a voice to those who do not have one. I'll be participating with many others today for the sake of saving lives...the lives of God's most precious gifts. The proceeds will go to a local agency that provides support in a variety of ways for women (teens included) who find themselves facing unplanned pregnancy. While these little lives are no surprise to God and His purpose for their precious existence has been set into motion, the mother, finding herself with child may not always rejoice in all that comes with new life. The Pregnancy Center "offers hope and answers to women with unplanned pregnancies."
I'll not use this post to rant, bombard you with facts, or weigh your heart down with nauseating statistics. Instead, I hope you will see the good in all that is. I hope you will take events like this, as I do, as opportunities to shine for Christ.
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I am so excited to share this time with my daughter. She was a promise. Through many trials, tears and prayers, God fulfilled the desire of my heart. He granted me the opportunity to add to this world in a way that I had only dreamed of being able to do.
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Sure kids make life messy...but it is the most wonderful, beautiful mess I've ever known!
I also want to draw attention to an urgent matter laid upon my heart. Several months ago a friend of mine brought the Dennis family's situation to my attention. I have prayed and cried for this couple since first reading their story. Last September they delivered their first daughter who joined Jesus 10 short hours after birth due to a terminal condition called anencephaly. She was diagnosed early on, and without all the medical lingo, it basically means that her brain was not/would not develop. When they were faced with this news, they were given the option to end their pregnancy. Their faith carried them and they chose to follow through with the pregnancy. She writes a beautiful explanation of why they chose to do so. My life has been changed through their testimony and the life of their daughter Sophie.
Today she posted some wonderful news. They are once again expecting! However, as I read on, the joy quickly becomes weaved with sadness. At 13 weeks they have discovered that this child has a rare illness known as acrania. This illness will have the same terminal result, but is different in that the baby's skull is not developing as opposed to the brain. The fact that this second child has a similar rare terminal illness is almost unheard of. They have decided to continue with this pregnancy as well, all the while praying for a miraculous healing. God is good. All. The. Time. While I can't begin to guess what God's plan is for this family or how things will turn out, I do know that God has grown an amazing testimony through this couple. I also know that He has used Sophie's life and all that is her story to change the world for so many. There is no doubt that she has made an amazing contribution to the Kingdom...in fact I'd venture to say that she has served the Lord in greater ways in her short 10 hours of life than many Christians do in 100 years.
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While I do very little justice in sharing just how loudly their faith, hope and joy resound, I do ask that you keep this beautiful family in your prayers. This September will mark 1 year since Sophie went to dance at the feet of Jesus and the emotions are still very raw...and now to add this to it...It's times like this that we as adults MUST revert to our child-like faith in order to not grow weary or bitter. His plan is greater than anything we could imagine or accomplish on our own.
As I draw this to a close, I put all of this out there to say that this race will be completed with all of my heart. G and I will be completing this race in memory of Sophie, in honor of her sibling and in honor of their parents who, along with God, have chosen to make their lives possible. Despite the length of life, these angels, my daughter and every other life included, are a promise. They are a possibility.
I look forward to sharing the day's events with you soon!!!
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