God's Calling

From a very young age my mother begin telling me I was special. Of course as with any mother and father I knew I was special to them and being born into their later years it always seemed apparent to me that was reason I was special. I listen to my mom tell the story of my birth and realize what they are saying, I am here because of God.

After having my two older sisters my parents made the decision to not have anymore children. Nine years later God saw fit to bless my parents with another child. Upon becoming pregnant the doctors encouraged my mother to have an abortion. The doctors stated that due to the type of birth control that had been used during the previous nine years that there was a possibility I would be born with severe birth defects; my parents made the life-altering decision to keep their unborn child. I am sure there were times during the months to follow there was concern about the condition of their baby and for that reason many prayers were prayed. However God knew what He had planned.

As the winter months approached and the day of delivery loomed closer and closer God's peace drew nearer. At 12:00 p.m. Friday, December 29th my mother telephoned my dad and said it was time for me to be born. I am sure with some concern my parents begin the fifteen mile drive from Cave City, Arkansas to the hospital in Batesville, Arkansas. Upon arriving at White River Medical Center my mother was admitted to a birthing room. After what seemed like a life-time to those waiting I entered the world at 1:23 am the morning of December 30th. It was a miracle! I was born perfectly healthy. Of course God always has perfect timing. Little did my parents, the hospital staff or those visiting have any idea God was getting ready to bless the area with a blizzard. Around 9:00 am the morning of December 30th the doctor came into the room and told my parents a blizzard was beginning outside and they needed to take me home. Only eight hours old my parents left the hospital, with me, and began the drive back to Cave City.

The next day, December 31st, fell on a Sunday and my dad who doesn't miss church left my mother and the new baby to attend service in Batesville. He attended Sunday morning and Sunday evening services. The snow on the ground, the freezing temperatures or new baby did not detour him from worshipping God, he knew he had something to go thank God for.