A Miracle Child...

My Grandson

Brandon Lake has a song called "Miracle Child". Everytime I hear the song, I think of God's goodness and mercies. My biological mother and father were less than Godly people. In fact, it was hard to see God at work in our lives at all because of his alcoholism, gambling, abuse, and our home situation. That coupled with my biological mother's manic-depression made for an interesting homelife. I remember her vividly as being "checked out" most of the time. She just didn't care. She was tired with four children by 21. She laid on the couch, slept, didn't cook, didn't clean, didn't make birthday cakes, or do laundry. I did everything from 5 years old on. I do mean everything. I was in charge of my siblings, the meals, the laundry outside on a wringer washer, buying groceries with the food stamps, hauling water from the nearby creek in milk jugs (20 jugs every couple of days), and cooking a cake, if there was one for a birthday. We didn't have indoor plumbing, no running water, and electricity was optional when the bills were paid. We moved around a lot. We usually stayed near the same place, but we would get evicted and move, only to have the cycle repeat itself.

I couldn't see God at all until later. At about the age of 8, I remember a nearby church bus picking us up for services. I was saved at that little church. I still drive by it on occasion. I remember not really knowing much about God, but He was there and I needed God. I needed someone to take care of me and love me. Later looking back, I see where God was definitely right beside me with his arms around me the entire time. He was performing my miracles.

I drowned at around 3 years old. I only remember parts and pieces of the experience as I was very young. My father had several other female interests throughout my life. He was supposed to be looking out for me, and of course, was not. When they found me, I was face down in a vat of water at the ice house where he worked. I was not breathing. I was ashen, and had no pulse. They began CPR and I was in the hospital for weeks after that experience. When God brought me back, I had pneumonia in my lungs and was sick for quite some time. I was a miracle child.

Luke wrote in Acts 3:16, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." You see miracles are the healing that God did in the Bible. But, miracles are also the healing of the mind and soul. All these miracles come from God. Whether that miracle is Lazarus being raised from the dead or a little 3 year old from drowning, miracles are seen and unseen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." You see, sometimes our mouths do not know what to ask for. Sometimes we haven't seen what we need. But Christ sees what we need, who we are, and the future for us. He knows that He can do so much more than we imagine or ask Him. He performs miracles we don't know how to ask for or don't even know we need. His miracles, His glory, and His church for us, forever in Heaven.