Posted By Janice
This week I found out a new life is growing inside me. And as this precious little one forms, I am reeling with joy and excitement. I have hope and a deep peace.
Last night as I lay in bed praying for this little one, I realized I am not nearly as fearful as I used to be. Not that long ago, when I thought of having a new baby I was full of fears and worries: What if the baby is disabled or sick? What if we can’t afford the additional costs of another child? What if I am not healthy enough to look after two children? What if…?
But as I rejoice over this new little child, I don’t feel that same panic. Instead I feel peace. And as I picture these struggles hitting me, trying to take me down – illness, financial hardship, disabilities, hospitalizations – faces and names appear. I see my friends in the blogosphere, my sisters in Christ, who are walking these roads and are surviving with their faith intact. They have wept and suffered, but the Lord and the Body of Christ have been with them, holding them up, wiping their tears and giving them hope.
And these people have made me stronger. They have given me courage. They have shown me that with Christ we can make it through the hard days.
So I want to thank these women for showing me this, for letting me know that when the hardships come I will be able to stand up under it. I will have the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ with me.
So for these next few weeks I would like to spotlight a few of these special women. I am filled with gratitude for all these bloggers and the many, many others who have taught me courage.
But before I begin, I would like to mention Heather. I know that since she is the co-founder of Faith Lifts, I can’t really give her a Spotlight of Faith Award. But I have to thank Heather because her face is the first that comes to my mind when I begin to worry about my children being ill or disabled. I see her and her family enduring, thriving and even rejoicing despite the agony of what they have suffered with precious Emma.
Nothing can minimize the horror of watching your child suffer. I know that earth can not hand us a crueler fate. But somehow watching Heather survive and love her child through this gives me the courage that no matter what happens to me or my children, we will survive it too, calling out for the mercy and peace that only Christ can bring us.
Thank you Heather!
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OH.MY.GOODNESS - Praising Him for the precious gift
- Janice I am so excited for you!!!!!!!!! I hardly can contain myself…Lifting you and the precious gift up in prayers.
What a blessing to find out this week!! Congratulations Janice!!! HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE
First let me congratulate you on the blessing of a tiny baby. What a precious gift from God.
I am looking forward to the next few weeks and your entries. It is things like this that offer hope and encouragement to others who may have walked in similar shoes or are walking in them now and are looking to draw strength from someplace. God is using you for great things.
WHOA!!! Congrats Janice!! I am elated for you. I know you are tickled. I will be praying for you. I am thrilled for you.
WOW…congratulations! I am soooo happy for you. Praying for strength, peace, health and joy for you and the little one.
So sweet! Your posts have been uplifting to me.
I’m still so excited for you, Janice. This should be a happy time so I’m very thankful that your fears are settling down. Heather is an example to us all. I have no idea if I could be as strong as she is. And it’s just one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard that you are going to spotlight people who’ve inspired you. Congratulations again. I’m tickled pink for all of you.
This is my first visit here and I love your site. Wonderful blog posts. Have a beautiful day!
JANICE JANICE JANICE!!!!! i am SO HAPPY for you. God bless that little babe being formed in your womb!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
JANICE!!! another wonderful thing…check it out!!! my computer is now posting my comments on your site again! YAH YAH YAH! i don’t know how my IP got fixed but it did!!!! Love you sister. Shalom to you! Wooooooo!
Congrats!!!!!! so exciting.
I’ve given you my shouts of joy over at 5M4M. I must say that your closing thoughts are so very true.
I also agree that Heather and her family are a great testimony of endurance. I have appreciated her willingness to share so freely on her blog and through e-mail. So, I’m “showing my love” for all of you by this comment.
i absoutely agree with your thoughts here. i too am expecting (june 28) and have really been aware though blogging alone, how many mothers experience, overcome and excel through hardships. i am blessed and feel blessed to have 2 relatively healthy children and know that even if this precious life inside me is not 100% healthy - I will have the strength to endure whatever comes my way — through Christ of course!
oh yeah - and one more thing CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am so happy for you. I will be praying fiercely for you and the baby!
Congrats again! I agree with you, Heather is so an inspiration on thriving in faith and family in the midst of great trials. Truly inspiring!
Oh JANICE!!! I’m so excited for you, your family and that Little life growing inside of you. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I comment again about how extremely excited I am for you! When you come to mind I say a prayer for you and your child. You do not know me, and yet we are connected, how easy it is for God to get the Glory. That is such a huge thing, what a gift the internet CAN be. Connecting sisters who may have not otherwise ever known you or to lift you up. I know that I am not the only one doing so. And I can not say enough how much this daily blog has meant to me. You guys all deserve an award if you were to ask me.
Congratulations!! What an awesome post on just having faith that God will take care of you through anything that is thrown your way. I had to widen my eyes a bit as I read the word courage. I just went on a prayer walk and one of the things that I prayed about was having the courage to live out my theme scripture for the year - Mark 12:30. Thanks for sharing your faith with us
Janice, congratulations! I love that first week of finding out there’s a new little life that has begun inside me–it’s like the most wonderful secret in the world!! I’m praying for you as you look forward to seeing who this little one is!
Wow! I just found 5 minutes for mom today! Thank you for creating such a great forum and your touching post. Your fears, the ones that each expecting mother tries to push out of her head and heart for nine months, came true for me. My youngest of four children, Merritt Joy, is five. Her condition, a mitochondrial disease, has kept her development at about three month level. The journey to understanding and growth was incredible for me. Because most of my soul searching and time with God happened while doing laundry, I titled the book about my journey, Lessons from the Laundry. You can check out my blog there. I’ve written the book (not published, but getting closer everyday!) and web-site to reach out to moms, just like you, who may worry about the getting the crud out of their lives as well as the grass stained pants. Blessings to you and your precious new gift. Kathy