Shalom, and To Be Loved

Since we heard David’s diagnosis, I’ve often wondered why God gave me this baby to carry for nine months. I am grateful for his little life, and most days I have carried him gladly. I love to feel his little movements and hear his heart beating and know that I have chosen to give him life. But it is hard because this is his life—perhaps in the womb only; if the Lord gives us time after David’s birth I know it will be brief.

David’s grandma has a word the Lord has given her to pray over each of our children. When she was praying about what David’s word should be, God impressed the word “peace” on her heart, before we had chosen his name. At first she thought that couldn’t be right. But as time has passed we’ve seen that this baby has brought peace to us, and a release from any fear of death or questions without answers. Through David, God has filled our family with His true peace.

A friend wrote me a couple of weeks ago that David’s vocation is to be loved. And, oh, how I have seen his vocation lived out, even in the womb! David is so loved. Our family, our church, our friends, acquaintances, and even strangers love our son. He is a precious gift. His siblings in particular love him wholeheartedly. They can’t walk by me without touching my belly and talking to David and giving him a kiss. They sing to him and read him stories because they want him to know their voices when he is born. The love they have for him cannot be returned and David can’t do anything for them—but they love him unreservedly anyway, expecting nothing in return. It’s a small picture of the love our God has for us, and it is beautiful. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.