Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: UNBORN (07/27/23)
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TITLE: She’s Special | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
08/02/23 -
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Elizabeth and Benjamin are honoring my request that they marry in this small church on Maui. A tropical breeze pushes the scent from the white flowers of the KuKui trees through the open windows. Elizabeth asked why I wanted them to marry here. I told her it was special.
Twenty-three years ago, I reluctantly visited my grandmother here on Maui. The church hadn’t change much. The wooden floors still creak. Although, the walls were freshly painted. The white curtains, waved in the breeze. I dreaded the conversation I was going to have with my grandmother that day. I wasn’t going to reverse my decision. But something happened. There was a transformation in my thoughts.
Halfway through the service that day, goosebumps ran up my arms. I felt weak. What’s this about? A miscarriage? Is the baby trying to tell me something? My hands glided across my stomach. I felt a tingling run down the back of my neck. Were people looking at me? For the first time, I realized a human being was inside of me. I shuddered. It wasn’t just a mass of cells, tissues, muscles, and tendons.
I gave so much thought to what I was going to say to my grandmother. Suddenly, my thoughts turned, to names, colors, and decorating. To mask my uneasiness, I began singing and clapping with the rest of the congregation. “Show me your ways Lord and guide me in your truths.” Suddenly, I felt connected to the congregation and I didn’t even know them.
Guide me? How? We continued, singing, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Make my heart pure, and renew a strong spirit in me.”
I wondered what the baby looked like at this stage of development. I couldn’t afford to have a child. I cradled my stomach as if to protect it.
It—no not it. This baby is a precious child. Is it a boy or a girl? If a girl we would have fun dressing up. What if it’s a boy? I don’t know anything about sports. How can I raise a child? I’m working two jobs now to make ends meet just for me.
The words, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” pierced my heart.
I snapped back to the present moment, just as the wedding ceremony ended. I watched Elizabeth and Benjamin walk down the aisle. We greeted the guest after the wedding and shared many laughs. The reception was fun but very exhausting for me.
After the reception, I returned to my room and flopped across my bed. It wasn’t easy, raising a child alone. Elizabeth’s father severed all ties with us. I never filed for financial assistance. In my mind, if he didn’t want to see us, it was his loss. Even though I was working two jobs, I was able to attend church. God always seemed to provide. When the electric was ready to be turned off, a check would come in the mail. There were times I would wake and find someone had slipped an envelope under our front door. This continued even after I got on my feet financially. Life always seemed to work out.
There was a knock on the door. I answered it. It was Elizabeth.
“Just checking are you OK?”
I nodded.
“See you tomorrow at eight for breakfast. I want to thank you for everything.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Good night mom.”
I thought. MOM what a sweet sound. To think it almost didn’t happen.
Psalm 127:3 Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. NKJV
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Thanks for your story. Well done.