Sunday, December 12, 2010

Baby Plans: A Surprise Up God's Sleeve

“I want another baby.”

My boss’s wife, Cindy adored their soon-to-be-teen daughter and son, but longed for a wee one to nurture. For months, Lance resisted her pleas. “Cindy, we have the perfect family: a boy and a girl. Let’s be content with that. Besides, I’ll be forty in a year. I don’t want people thinking I’m my kid’s grandfather at her high school graduation.”

Cindy was undaunted. Bit by “the baby bug,” she persisted in her heart’s desire for one more child.

Finally, Lance concocted a plan he was sure would discourage her. “All right, we can try one last time. But it must be a girl, she must be born before my fortieth birthday, and you need to have her on a Saturday, so I don’t have to take off work to go to the hospital with you.”

“Agreed,” said Cindy, humming to herself as she thumbed through a Babies R Us catalog.

Nine months later, Lance jolted awake when a finger gouged him in the rib. “Are you ready to go have this baby?” said Cindy. That afternoon, Tiffany June made her appearance. It was a Saturday, December 12, two days before Lance’s fortieth birthday.

When Lance related this story to me, I asked him if Cindy had prayed that he agree to another baby, or about the timing of Tiffany’s birth. “Not that I know of,” he said.



What? This really messes with my theology. I want people to have exactly what they want, when they want it, only if they have asked God for it. I certainly don’t believe luck had anything to do with Tiffany’s birth, so that leaves only one other answer: God did this as a favor to Lance and Cindy, simply because He loves them and wanted to bless them. Period.

Why does this bother me? Because I want my teeter-totter balanced. If I obey the Lord and honor Him with my life, I can expect Him to answer outrageous prayers like a girl baby born on a certain day before her daddy’s 40th birthday. But if someone who wants something a specific way gets it without even asking God, what does that tell me?

Not what you might think. Not that it doesn’t pay to serve God, or that we shouldn’t pray for what we want and need, but simply this: God is God—He can do whatever He wants. And I believe it tickled Him to give Lance and Cindy exactly what they wanted, because He likes to make people happy. He is a good God who does good things for everyone, not only those who ask.



Here’s a final thought: If God gave someone the desire of their heart when they didn’t even ask Him, how much more would He give someone who comes boldly to His throne and makes their requests known? Kinda makes you want to expect a lot more out of Him, doesn’t it?


*photos by flikr

11 comments:

  1. There has to be some kind of divine intervention there...especially knowing how hard it is to get pregnant as we get older. I think it was definitely God's plan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jen, another fantastic post. This one not only made me smile at your subtle wit within it, but marvel at God's plan.

    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Forgot to tell you:

    Yesterday, headed to a writing group Christmas party, I was going to drive a standard. Hubby had started it & left. I went to take the emergency brake off & COULD NOT get it off!!!!

    Iwas vexed to say the least. Stepped out of car & looked up to heaven. "God, why me?" (standard comment from someone who doesn't want this to happen:) ) Of a sudden a tho't popped into my head. Got back in car, pressed the regular brake & the emergency brake unlocked w/hardly any straining. Thank you, God. He knew I NEEDED to go to that meeting to be w/friends and relax.

    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is cool Jeanette! How like a Father to give good things to His children. Thanks for sharing that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jeanette:
    This is an interesting story. I see both sides of the issue- God answering her prayers and God chosing to give a special gift.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great story! God is definitely good to us all.
    -FringeGirl

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, it does! Thanks for your wise perspective and a lovely story.

    ReplyDelete
  8. great story, Jeanette. Every good and perfect gift comes from him, indeed.

    And beautiful new look.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Definitely something to think about!

    Jeannette-I LOVE your new layout! Beautiful! I know it was "you" the second I saw it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Jen -

    LOL! God does have a way of messing with our theology, doesn't He?

    Great story.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good thing that God is in charge of our lives!

    For me, however, the answer to Cindy's prayer doesn't surprise me so much as her determination to want and pray for a baby regardless of her husband's reluctance. Maybe that sticks out because I remember a woman who quietly went off her birth control for the same reason despite knowing her husband didn't want another child. In that case, the marriage wasn't too stable, she mistakenly thought a baby would bind them together but the deception eventually was the last straw in a dissolving marriage. In your friend's case it sounds like the husband was happy to be won over and welcomed the new little one.

    I expect everything worked out because it's what God had in mind all along... maybe even to putting the desire in Cindy's heart to start with. His ways are wonder-full, aren't they?

    Blessings to you!
    Carol Garvin

    ReplyDelete

Oh, it's YOU! I'm so happy to see you here today, and look forward to reading your comments.