The Joy of Being Wanted | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Joy of Being Wanted | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
10/31/21
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The Great Depression was at its peak. Daddy had lost his job at the railroad due to massive lay-offs and Mother's doctor confirmed that Mother was carrying her sixth child.

But because my godly parents believed in the sanctity of life, they welcomed the birth news with joy. "We'll make it!" Daddy promised. "God will provide; He always has! We'll just add another potato to the stew!"

Mother smiled but she was unwell. Suffering from pernicious anemia and osteoarthritis, she shared the news with her neighbors and friends. As her pregnancy progressed, both groups held baby showers for her, gifts of used baby clothing that their children had outgrown. Mother was delighted!

One Saturday morning, a well-groomed friend of Daddy's arrived at our door with his wife. While seated on our well-worn sofa, Mr. Stermer addressed Mother and Daddy. "We've come with a proposal for you. We know you're expecting your sixth child and we're happy for you. My wife was told by her doctor that she cannot have children and we are devastated by the news. After much discussion, we decided to ask you both to consider letting us adopt your new baby when he or she arrives.

"The Depression has been hard on so many and I know it has impacted you, too. I've been fortunate to own a shoe repair shop and business has been good. More people are opting to have their shoes repaired rather than buying new ones.

"We are prepared to offer you a substantial amount of money if you agree to the proposal. It will be more than enough to pay off the mortgage on your house and much more. We'll also pay all attorney fees, of course."

Daddy quickly stood up. "I must stop you, Alvin. I've known you for many years and you'd make wonderful parents for our new baby. But it's inconceivable that we could give up one of our children, regardless of the monetary advantage. We could never forgive ourselves if we agreed. I'm sorry."

The Stermers rose, knowing the discussion was over. Daddy shook Mr. Stermer's hand and said, "Let's pray that God will either give you a baby or that He'll provide the one He wants you to adopt."

They all joined hands and while Daddy prayed, Mrs. Stermer and Mother wiped tears from their eyes. As they bid them goodbye at the door, Daddy promised to continue praying for them.

Several months later, the Stermers appeared at our front door again. In his arms, Mr. Stermer carried a healthy six-weeks-old boy, dressed in a blue and white sailor suit.

"We've come to show you our new son!" Mr. Stermer announced proudly. "We adopted him last week and already he feels like our own."

It was a joyous reunion and before their visit ended, Daddy thanked God for blessing this couple with a healthy, beautiful child. In the years to follow, young Andy Stermer would be in all my classes at school.

Mother was bedridden for much of her pregnancy. She worried that her anemia would impede my development and prayed constantly for my health and her healing.

Daddy and Mother considered a home delivery for me since they had no insurance and no funds for hospital care. But they recalled that when my older sister was born three years earlier in our dining room, Daddy was so overcome by the pain Mother was suffering that he fainted and fell to the hardwood floor. The doctor, completely engrossed in my delivery, used his foot to push Daddy under the dining room table on which Mother lay. Remembering this, they opted for hospital delivery.

I was born without complications and was declared healthy despite the eczema which covered my body. Daddy was so full of joy that he soon carried me around the neighborhood, knocking on each door, showing off his new daughter.

Mother's anemia prevented her from producing milk so for a short time, two new mothers who were nursing their babies, took turns feeding me.

One Sunday morning, Mother and Daddy carried me to the church altar where the pastor dedicated me to the Lord. The Scripture they chose for that occasion was, "Thou wilt show (her) the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11 KJV)

Today, eight decades later and now with limited mobility and declining health, I heartily affirm that, "the joy of the Lord is (my) strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)
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Non-fiction

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12 KJV)

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