Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EXPECTATION (01/28/21)
-
TITLE: Exceedingly, Abundantly Above Expectations | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
01/30/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
She felt lonely that evening. Andy, her missionary husband, was in a neighboring village supervising a church building for the Christian believers there. Andy, a skilled craftsman, was a builder of houses, clinics, churches, and schools and served as pastor of the local Sierre Leone Christian church. Norma taught in the Bible School and had a ministry among the women of the village.
For all the years they had been married, this devout couple had longed to have children. Both had gone through the suggested testing before leaving America years before, but doctors found nothing that could prevent them from having a child.
Growing up in a family of seven children, Norma treasured the close relationships she shared with her siblings and prayed earnestly every day that she would conceive. She wanted to send a letter home saying, "Guess what? We're expecting a baby!" But it hadn't happened.
Not long after, while visiting a French doctor in an African coastal city, she learned the devastating news. Her abdomen was filled with malignant tumors. X-rays confirmed it. She needed to have a hysterectomy soon to rid her of the tumors before they spread any further.
Her first thought was, "Oh no! That means I can never have the baby I've always wanted." Her tears freely flowed as she sought comfort in Andy's arms.
The doctor had privately told Andy that Norma had only about three months to live, something thatAndy did not share with his wife. The mission board instructed them to return to the States for surgery immediately.
That night as she knelt by her bed in their modest missionary home, Norma searched her well-worn Bible for some words of comfort. Her eyes fell on these words, " I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." (Psalm 118:17)
Then the Lord directed her to Psalm 113:9. "He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!"
She read them over and over and decided to claim them as promises from God. But then, she wondered how she could be the mother of children if she had a hysterectomy, as her French doctor insisted.
Saying goodbye to the church members was hard, but Norma promised that they would return soon. Some of them knew of the doctor's timetable and wept, knowing they would never see her again in this world.
Arriving in New York City, Norma entered the hospital, where doctors confirmed through tests that she did indeed have malignant tumors in her abdomen. They scheduled her for surgery in four days.
Norma and Andy spent those four days with us since we lived just 25 miles from the hospital. I was expecting my first child, and it was with mixed feelings that I showed her my son, who was delivered while she was with us, on her birthday. As she held and rocked him, I wept, knowing she would never know the joy of motherhood.
Norma's faith was strong. She held onto the two verses God gave her as though her life depended on it. And it did!
Returning to the hospital in Manhattan for surgery, she went through routine blood testing and X-rays. She was surprised when she was wheeled twice to the X-ray Department for more scanning.
The nurse returned Norma to her room, and soon the surgeon walked in.
He pulled a chair up beside Norma's bed, then said, "I don't know what happened since we took your X-rays four days ago confirming your tumors, but both sets of X-rays today show no tumors at all anywhere. I have canceled your surgery, and I'm releasing you today."
Norma told the surgeon of the two verses God had given her in Africa and praised God for answered prayer.
The couple returned to Africa, and one year later, Norma delivered the first of their three children.
Years later, two of the children became missionaries to Africa after seminary training, and the third has been on the staff of a church in upstate New York for some time.
God had given Norma exceedingly, abundantly above all that she had hoped for, prayed for, and expected. Instead of three months left to live, God gave her 57 more years!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
