Miracle Stories

---

Lydia booked another appointment with the nurse. She was to come with her partner this time to discuss about the young life she carried in her womb. The feeling they had was inexplicable. One would think they would be elated about the bold blue lines on the test stick confirming the good news. It was the news thousands of couples so wish they had. It was all too familiar though. The whole buzz was just too familiar. Both Lloyd and Lydia could recount the stages from the feeling of early pregnancy to the confirmation.

Lloyd and Lydia are a Christian couple who loved the Lord. They worshiped in a vibrant church and enjoyed the family of God. As soon as they got married, Lydia was pregnant with Joe. Joe was a split image of his Dad. He grew in wisdom and grace. Lydia and Lloyd loved their son to bits and their extended family spoilt him with good things. Lydia ensured he was brought up in the way of God, teaching him scriptures and taking him to church every Sunday. Joe grew up to love football and he never missed weekly matches for boys his age.

By the time Joe was 5, Lydia and Lloyd felt it was the right time to have another addition to the family. He or she would be the perfect play mate for energetic Joe. As there were no problems whatsoever in conceiving Joe, their faith tank was full to the brim and they took things in their strides. Then came the good news , it was however short lived as she suffered a miscarriage within the first couple of months. It was not a happy experience. One moment she was preparing to share the good news with friends and family and the next, an unfortunate ‘mis’ had occurred. Her husband comforted her. Her family members were right by her side assuring her things would return to normal and God would bless her once more.

Lydia being a positive individual was soon back to her usual self. She trusted God and left things in His able hands. Before long, she was carrying another child. It was a good feeling, although with a tinge of doubt. She kept her faith up knowing God will not set her up for failure. Alas! It happened again, the dreaded ‘mis’. Once again she was at the same point of despair and unbelief. This time she had a few questions for God. Why was this happening to her? If God wasn’t going to give her a child yet, why did He make conception happen? What could she be doing wrong? Was she eating something wrong or exercising too hard? Lloyd tried to assuage her fears. ‘It was not meant to be’, he often told her.

She chose to trust the Lord again and again. And again and again, the ‘misses’ kept happening, year in year out. This was another pregnancy again and they reluctantly attended the appointment with the nurse to kick start prenatal care. At the appointment, Lydia was asked how many pregnancies including miscarriages she had had. She paused and calmly told the nurse ‘I stopped counting at 12’ Lloyd was startled. Really? 12? He had counted about 6 and thought things had gone quiet. He had left all in the saviour’s hands. They were very close but he did not know his wife had weathered some storms all alone. Lydia did not know what to feel about this life within her. Was he or she going to stay or go like the rest? Would she ever hold her own new born baby in her hands?

After about 8 counts, she had abandoned herself in the saviour’s hand. She didn’t want to talk about it any longer. Well meaning friends and family asked questions and everyone tried to give a word of advice or admonition. The thing is, She never doubted that God could bless her, afterall He blessed her with Joe. The only question is ‘why is God permitting the ‘misses’? was she to learn a particular lesson or was she to repent of a sin? It took a few quiet moments with God. Lydia took some time off to go away and just learn from the master’s feet. She eventually realised it was for God’s glory.

The blind man in John chapter 9 was born blind and Jesus said it was not due to his parents’ sin but that the works of God might be displayed in his life. So, she threw herself into the saviour’s work and got herself tired working for God. She made up her mind to go on living and allow the works of God to be made manifest in her home. Baby or no baby, she was going to live for God and ensure His name is glorified. She was basically ‘kept’ by God. During the low and high times, she held on to God in faith.

At the clinic, the nurse raised her eyebrows as Lloyd tried to hold himself from tears. The nurse eased off and gave them some time to comfort each other. Lloyd questioned her ‘ what on earth was going on?’ Lydia confessed amidst tears how she’d lied to him even after she confirmed tests of pregnancy. She couldn’t bear the look of joy turn sour after just a few weeks. She confessed how her faith had gone burst and she became scared of getting pregnant. Lloyd looked on in disbelief. Lydia had more confessions, the stream of blood he had seen in the water closet six months ago wasn’t her period as she had quickly dismissed his fear, it was another ‘mis’. They held each other’s hands and wiped each other’s tears. Lloyd prayed for his dear wife and asked God to keep this one. He squeezed her hands and lovingly told her, ‘God will come through for us’

There was a loud knock on the door and the nurse peeped in, they managed a feeble smile and that was enough for the nurse to come back in. Quickly, she announced the other tests needed. Lydia froze as she visualised the numerous tests and hoped none would disrupt the little life in her.

Prayer altars were promptly raised in church and beyond on their behalf. They held onto every word of God on hope and faith. Just in time, God came through for them and now she was pregnant again. Lydia watched as her bump grew. Lloyd thanked God every day. Big brother Joe was ecstatic. He had watched with so much thrill how his friends’ mums pushed buggies with babies wrapped in pink or blue blankets. His friends were all so proud of their sisters and brothers and sometimes Joe asked innocently why he doesn’t have a baby like the rest. Finally his baby was coming. Joe rubbed his mother’s bump at every opportunity given, He spoke to the baby about football and the goodness of being alive.

Soon, Lloyd was planning a secret baby shower with loving sisters in church. It occurred to them it had been 10 years since Lydia nursed a baby and she definitely would need to bring back the ‘know hows’ of a baby. She was overwhelmed with the joyful surprise. It was a memorable party. Lots of laughter, delicacies to eat, bags of gifts for the new born and for the new mum. It was becoming a reality. A dream come true.

The day came and the birth was seamless. God had crowned her years of pain with a perfect birth. Lydia delivered a handsome baby boy. He was another split image of her husband. He peered at her and moved his lips slightly as if to say ‘Love you too mum, now may I have something to eat?!’ Lydia was in awe of God’s wonder. Lloyd saw nothing but God’s glory. Joe held his very own brother tight in his arms. He proudly told everyone that was his little bro. it was indeed a testimony and it spread like wild fire confirming God’s goodness.

Lydia named him ‘Isaac’, for surely the wonder of God caused her to laugh.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR