Ten years ago today, I gave birth to beautiful 7-pound, 13-ounce girl, Ariel. She is such a blessing in my life. From the beginning, that pregnancy had been anything but normal. However, it was this pregnancy that taught me to surrender all to God.
Let me take you back for a moment to the year 1999.
My dad died in May and by August, my husband and I, along with our oldest child, Lisa, returned to our hometown and began rebuilding our lives. Things were quite different this time. Before Dad died, I was a career woman. I worked full time and my husband stayed home with our daughter. However, affter Dad died, I just wanted to be home. I cherished every moment home with Lisa. I couldn't think straight at work. I had five jobs in five months. I just wanted to be home.
In November, my husband started working part-time at Sitel as a computer tech and I dropped down to part-time. Together, we figured our two part-time jobs would pay the bills and allow all of us more time at home together. That Christmas I began praying for another baby. I asked the Lord to please make it so that Lisa never has to endure the pain I’ve endured this past year. I was an only child, and I didn't want Lisa to be an only child too. “Please dear Lord give her someone to share her life with.”
The Lord heard my prayer and blessed our union in February. My husband was given the opportunity to work full-time in April 2000 and I was able to come home for good in May. Things were looking good. However, on July 2, 2000, while at church, I felt something strange happen. My baby dropped like a brick and did not move for 12 hours. At a routine check-up on July 5th, I discovered I had gone into labor. I was only 22 weeks along. Chance of survival was none before 24 weeks, and I was immediately put on medication and sent to bed.
We knew at that time we were having another girl, a sister for Lisa, and we would name her Ariel Elizabeth. I prayed and prayed, “ Lord, I asked for this blessing and you delivered her to us, you’ve provided so much, I know this is all going to work out because I just can’t see you taking all of this away when it was you who gave it to us in the first place.”
Many times throughout the next 17 weeks, I would find myself staring up a doctor's office ceiling as I was frequently monitored for contractions. During those long hours of trying to lie still and be quiet, I had quite a few talks to God. Many times, though, I would just quietly sing this song in my head: “All to Jesus, I Surrender. All to Him, I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him. In His presence daily live.”
Twenty-two weeks rolled into 24, 32, 36 and at 39 weeks I went into labor on Halloween and delivered a perfectly healthy 7-pound, 13-ounce baby girl at 6:18 a.m., November 1, 2000. Praise God!
I love quoting Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I've learned through all the trials of life to trust in Him. He loves us so much.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
As I watch her grow, along with all my blessings, (Psalm 127), I thank God for the constant reminders to surrender it all to Him.
Happy Birthday Ariel.
I Surrender All
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