With Valentines in February it seems that we think a lot about LOVE. There are several different kinds of love. We have love for our spouses, our family, love for food, places, hobbies and even our pets. There is also a love we have for one another. Sometimes that love is shown for a total stranger. It is a respect love…one of life itself.
In case you haven’t noticed yet….I am very sentimental, emotional, whatever you want to call it. Maybe I think differently than a lot of people. I think I just don’t mind talking about some things that others do not feel comfortable with. Maybe they do not want to share their feelings. To me it is healing.
I was touched years ago by an event that will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a younger sister who is married and has two beautiful children. She was surprised with the news that an additional member was being added to their family. Of course it was great news, just shocking, as they went through a flood of emotions. They shared their surprise with the family and we were so happy for them. Shortly after that some problems started to occur. But all in all things looked alright. Meanwhile we were given the news that my mother had terminal cancer. We had just two short weeks before she passed away. While we were spending time in the hospital with her, my sister (who lived out of town) tried to spend time with Mom as well. Problems arose and she was put to bed rest. That was really hard for her and all the family.
Five weeks after my mother died we received a call that my sister was admitted to the hospital and that the baby was in danger. That night before going to sleep she asked to hear the baby’s heart beat one more time….and it was then that they could not find it. My older sister and I just wanted to be by her side. She needed us…or maybe we just needed her. We also wanted and needed our Mama. We had never gone through a crisis that our Mother had not been right there for us and with us. We were devastated by all that had taken place.
When we arrived at the hospital I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. My brother in law was comforting his wife and all the while his heart was breaking too. She was lying there in the bed trying her best to come to grips with all the emotions she was dealing with. And her other children were home, worried and sad as well. Friends had already stepped up and were taking care of them. We prayed, we had already been praying, but we continued to pray. And we could feel the prayers of others who were praying for us.
The hospital staff was so compassionate. She was going to have to deliver the baby. It was going to take some time for her body to do that. The staff little by little tried to prepare them for what they were about to experience. This delivery would not be like her others. There would not be a crying baby….and it would not be the size of a full term baby. I remember feeling so helpless. You just wish there was something you could do to make it all better. To take away the hurt….but you really can’t.
We camped out with her, finding a spot on the bench seat, in the floor wherever we could. Just not wanting to leave her side. I woke up in the middle of the night and my heart just swelled with love as I saw my baby sister lying there trying to rest, her loving devoted husband right by her side hurting with her. My older sister curled up exhausted, having left two small children and husband miles away herself. I remember thinking, Mom would be so proud that we were supporting one another, but most of all she would be proud that we were trusting God to get us through. This is what she had taught us. This is where she had drawn her strength, from the Lord. The One who cares about every detail of our lives.
Hours and hours had gone by, she was admitted on the 15th and delivered on the 17th. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting for everyone. Of course she had the physical exhaustion on top of all the other.
When we were growing up my little sister had a piece of paper in her jewelry box that had a name on it. She had always said that was the name she was going to name her little girl. By now she had two children, a boy and a girl. She had named her first girl after both grandmothers and a great grandmother. They chose to name this precious baby the name she had saved in her jewelry box so many years ago.
Olivia Elise
Once delivery took place, the three of them shared some precious time together. A short time later we joined them. It was something I will never forget.
My older sister and I got the privilege of holding Olivia. She was absolutely the tiniest baby I had ever laid eyes on. My sister was just in her her fourth month when she delivered her. Olivia weighed 7 ounces and was just 9 ½ inches long. She fit perfectly into one of my hands. She had the tiniest little hands and feet I had ever seen. I couldn’t believe how she was so beautifully formed, yet so small.
One of Mothers favorite scriptures was Psalm 139: 13-16
After seeing Olivia , I truly see these scriptures differently. I am thankful for a God who created us so wonderfully and uniquely. Life is a beautiful miracle.
My little sister had prayed a prayer that only she and God knew about. While she was going through this process, she asked God if Olivia could have blue eyes like Mama’s. And could she please see them. Maybe that doesn’t sound like anything unusual, a lot of babies are born with blue eyes. The nurses however had now informed her that at this stage of development babies eyes are closed. Also their other children were not born with blue eyes. Their whole family has dark brown eyes.
God honored her prayer and Olivia was born with beautiful blue eyes. And they were open. The nurses were amazed and told her that they had never seen eyes open at that stage. It was like getting a hug from God. As if He was reassuring her that…He was there…He knew they were hurting…but He would be right there, walking this hard road with them.
The nurses came in to take Olivia for some photos to make a book for their family to keep. They asked if my older sister and I would like to come too. We were taken to a room, complete with a little wardrobe of clothes to choose from. Every size and style you could imagine. The nurse laid her down gently. She picked through a couple outfits and said I think this is perfect. She carefully dressed Olivia handling her like a precious jewel. She gently posed her for photos. Priceless photos the family could have for years to come.
I was overwhelmed with the amount of love and respect shown. I cannot, even though I have just tried, I cannot put it into words. The clothes she picked from had been given to the hospital from volunteers who sewed and donated them. They were so small, just like her, they had beautiful embellishments on them. You could tell they were put together with love. Someone had taken a lot of time to make them. Maybe it was someone that had gone through something like this themselves. Possibly it was their way to give some love back, in a sense let others know that their loved one was just that…LOVED. And who thought of a photo book….obviously someone else that has been through something like this. Who allowed a nurse to take time to do this, someone who valued life and decided that a service like this should be offered by their hospital. WOW.
Today it has been 7 years. Olivia is missed each and every day. God has been there and is still there walking with them every day. There have been a lot of tears and I can’t say that I understand why it all had to take place.
We have seen and talked with many women who have gone through similar experiences. The hurt doesn’t just go away. You don’t just get over it…. I suppose it hurts for a lifetime. Many women think that there is something very wrong with them for not being able to” pull it all back together ” as quickly as others do. My sister has been burdened with how to help other women and their families who have struggled with a similar situation. I pray that someone will find some healing in Olivia’s story. The love and respect that we show one another is very important in the healing process.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13
I have come to realize that we really never know what other people are going through. Some never share what is painful to them.
When I think of Olivia I think of love.
I think about the amount of love that one little tiny baby brought to our family. I think about the love she brought out in others.
Often we only see the ugliness of this world. It is refreshing to see love shown for one another. Love that reaches out and comforts, even through people you have never met before.
God continues to walk with us through everything we encounter in our lives. He brings people in our paths that help us through the struggles.
I want to treat others with that kind of love and respect.
The best kind of love we can experience is the love of GOD.
I've Gone Country 