Many patriarchs in the Old Testament built an altar or laid “Memorial Stones” as a physical reminder of something God had done.

In Genesis 12, Abram built an altar after God appeared to him:

⁷ Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your ^[c]descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.  (NKJV)

In Genesis 28, Jacob set up a pillar after encountering the Lord in a dream and again in 33 when he finally returned home.

Joshua was commanded to set up memorial stones after leading the people across the Jordan River in Joshua 4.

I’m sure there could be an entire study of physical altars, pillars, and memorial stones set up as reminders of the Lord’s goodness, His faithfulness, and His provision. Who knows, someone may have already done it…. but I digress.

For me personally, July 4-5, 2006 is one of my “memorial stones” or altars of the Lord in my life. If/when I go through dark seasons and doubt rises, I can always look to July 4-5 and say that I know beyond a doubt God is real and He still works miracles today. I know this because I was a part of a miracle of God – a tangible, life shaking, holy moment of God. During the course of 24-36 hours, I had an encounter that left me marked and for the last 12 years, I pause to tell the story behind the miracle I was a part of that day. Tonight, as the sun sets on July 5th, I pause to put it to print.

July 4, 2006 found us at my parents home in East Texas trying to enjoy the day while waiting for the inevitable to happen. We had recently learned that our 3rd baby would not make it and were waiting for a miscarriage to occur naturally. While resting there and trying to enjoy the time for our children, the daughter of one of my mom’s dearest friends who was living with them at the time happened to go into labor. This precious mom, we’ll call her TPM for the sake of the story, was several weeks early – 6 if I recall – and I decided to use the tricks my midwife used on me with my son and daughter….

We had her take a bath – our midwife told us it would slow down false contractions and speed up the real deal – this precious mom went into overdrive.

Sip on some wine…drink lots of water…. that didn’t work either.

We quickly decided we would take her to the nearest hospital about 45 minutes away. It was a bumpy and, for her, I’m sure a very uncomfortable ride to the emergency room. Once there, they determined this precious mom was indeed in labor. Dilated to a 6, we knew her little man would come sooner than expected.

We settled into her room while my mom called her mom, and we tried to visit while the flurry of activity swirled around us. TPM had not decided yet if she was going to keep her son or give him up for adoption.

As we talked, she asked me about a couple from my church that hoped to adopt some day. My mom shared their story with her several weeks earlier and she wanted to know more. This couple was – IS – something special. They stood in faith that one day God would give them a child – they didn’t know how – but they knew beyond a doubt it would happen. She asked me about them and asked if I thought they would be interested. Even though I hadn’t asked them and they had no idea this was happening, I knew they would be a yes. No question.

TPM was a warrior in birth. She courageously birthed her son just after midnight on July 5th and somewhere in the process of focusing on his safe arrival, she made the incredible decision to place him for adoption.

As soon as little man was born, she asked me to go check on him. I walked to the bassinet, laid my hands on his tiny body, and prayed for him. Since he was early, he was taken away pretty quickly and after things settled down around her, TPM asked me to call the couple from our church. A few hours later, I called our pastor and shared the news with him. He placed the call to the couple who happened to be at youth camp. They were the youth directors. I really have no idea how that conversation went but I heard it was something like this:

Pastor: “Hi there….How’s camp?”

Youth Pastor (YP): “Good!”

(I’m sure small talk was kept to a minimum as this pastor is good at cutting to the chase)

Pastor: “You think you can get someone to cover for you? You need to come home. You have a son”

I heard from youth there that screaming and crying ensued. I would love to hear what all happened at camp…. talk about something exciting happening! I imagine the YP and his wife must have packed in record time. I met them around 5-6pm on July 5th and walked with them to the nursery. I had only asked for one thing – I wanted to be the one to place the baby in their arms and introduce them to their son.

So… I did. I picked up that precious boy and introduced him to his mom and dad. His mom gave him a bottle and they couldn’t quit looking at him. From my perspective, I saw two people fall in love in a moment. The smiles on their faces – the tears in their eyes. Their 13 year wait was over.

What they had prayed for, believed for, cried over, waited for, and stood in faith for was literally in their hands.

July 4, 2006 – no hope of a son – nothing on the horizon – just standing in faith….

July 5, 2006 – they were holding, kissing, touching, and gazing into the face of God’s provision. They had a son. They were parents!

The timing of God and the will of God intersected where I stood and a suddenly of God occurred. A miracle happened literally overnight.

I took them to meet TPM and waited outside her room. When asked to describe what type of dad the youth pastor would be, she later told me that his wife said something that confirmed her choice to give her son to them. The youth pastor’s wife said that her husband had never said anything unkind or hurtful to her – EVER – and she had no doubt he would be that way as a father.

By another miracle, TPM allowed the youth pastor and his wife to name the baby – who, by the way – was in perfect health. After a week or so in the hospital to gain weight, the youth pastor and his wife took home their miracle. Our church was over the moon. This new family had nothing….and we had a ball giving them a shower. I’ve never seen a church mobilize so quickly!

To TPM I say this: you my dear are one of the bravest mothers I know. Thank you for choosing life for your son. Thank you for your incredibly selfless act of giving him to the family you did. I hope you know they are crazy about him and he is growing into an amazing man.

To the youth pastor and his wife – wow. Just wow. I love you guys and am honored to have helped connect you with TPM. Who knows…maybe God took us to Tyler for this reason alone.

To the little man, I hope you know what a gift you are. You have been loved, wanted, prayed for, and cherished from day one. Your life is a miracle. YOU are a miracle.

To Abba God – Thank you for allowing me to be a witness to and a part of this miracle. I stand in awe still today of how you orchestrated this life, this moment, this suddenly. Forgive me for my doubt and the discouragement that often plagues my soul.

Every year on the July 4th holiday, I tell my children the story of little man’s birth. We pray for him, for his adoptive parents, and for his birth mom.

We pause. We remember. We give thanks.

Everyone of us have ‘altars’ and memorial stones in our lives – moments we can point to where we know God existed, where God answered a prayer, a time when God provided or protected us – tangible moments that cannot be explained away as a ‘feeling.’ May we use our altars and memorial stones to tell the next generation of the mighty deeds of the Lord so that they would not be stubborn and stiff necked like I was (from Psalm 78). And, in the telling, may our hearts remain tender, broken, and open before God so that He can continue to work in and through us.

More of you, Abba, and less of me.

I pause. I remember. I give thanks.

 

In awe of Him and His goodness ~ Marci