Child of Miracles

Eighteen months ago I was in a meeting at Church.  The meeting was like most others and to be honest I don't even remember what we discussed that night, but what happened during and after that meeting gave me a renewed sense of faith, grace and love unlike most anything I have ever seen in my life.

Just a month or so earlier, our Pastor Jen had shared the news with our congregation that she was expecting her first child.  The congregation was overjoyed for Jen and her husband Mike, also a Methodist Pastor at a nearby church.

On the night of our meeting several of us noticed Pastor Jen appearing to be run-down and tired.  Some even mentioned it to her.  As the meeting concluded, I walked to the parking lot with Jen and we spoke briefly about how she just wasn't feeling well.  As we usually do, we departed with a hug and I told her to get some rest.

Unbeknownst to me and the rest of the congregation, that ride home for Jen would change her life forever.  After a call to her on-call doctor, Jen was informed to pack an overnight bag and get to the hospital.

Following doctor's orders she and Mike soon arrived at the hospital and doctor's began to do their work.  Over the next few days it was determined that not only was the babies life in danger, but also Pastor Jen's.

Word of Pastor Jen's difficulties began to seep out into our community of faith and we all began to pray for her, Mike and their unborn child.  Following a couple of days of ups and downs, Jen was transferred to another hospital and she delivered Luke, just over 1 lb at birth.

It was apparent from the beginning that Pastor Jen, Pastor Mike and baby Luke were in for a battle.  Doctor's weren't very encouraging, but one thing that baby Luke had on his side was a community of faith that lifted he and his parents up.

We began to pray for baby Luke, we spread the word about baby Luke to other churches and we continued to pray.  We prayed through dark days, days when it seemed inevitable that God's will wasn't for baby Luke to live.  Facebook pages were formed for prayer and updates, blue ribbons were worn in solidarity with baby Luke and we turned it over to God for a miracle, to deliver baby Luke from harm.

During his early months, baby Luke was transferred from a local hospital to a regional hospital in Miami that could give him more intense care.  We continued to pray and Pastor Jen and Pastor Mike made the trip daily to see their little boy and spend time with him.

One night during a bible study I was attending, Pastor Jen got word that she needed to get to Miami immediately.  As word spread of this news, again we began to pray.

As time went along, it sometimes was confusing what we were praying for, but we kept praying. 

Months passed and Luke began to improve, bit by bit his small body began to respond to treatments and he began to grow.  First Christmas, birthday, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day were all held in a hospital NICU unit, but although they were reserved just for family, the faithful celebrated these milestones from miles away.

Finally, as if God had smiled on this little angel, Luke came home.  He was released from the hospital with a mom and dad who had spent far too many hours confined to a hospital to enjoy their newborn;s birth.  He came home.

This time we prayed a prayer of Thanksgiving..... another milestone met.

Today, several months after his initial homecoming, Luke was brought to another home.  For the first time he was introduced to our congregation and his baptism was reaffirmed before one of his Church families.  Again we prayed and we cried, but we also smiled today.  Today a miracle child was in our midst and a proud mother and father shared the pulpit to preach the word of Luke's life and the lessons learned through his life.

We continue to pray for Luke, for the young boy he is and the young man he will become.  We will continue to pray and celebrate the milestones.

Baby Luke is home, the blue ribbons no longer adorn our wrist and the Facebook page doesn't get much traffic any longer, but the prayers remain for a miracle child who taught us all about faith, perseverance, love, grace and prayer.

Welcome to the family baby Luke, we look forward to seeing where God leads you and your parents as you continue to journey.