and then a 21-year wait for motherhood in Amazing Grace for Mothers.
Here is an adaptation of it.
that one day it would be for real. But shortly after her marriage to Bob,
she stopped thinking about having children. Instead, she wondered, “What have I
done?”
nightmare. Many nights were spent home alone since she was not old enough to
accompany him to the bar. After four years, she finally left him.
argument. He left promising to kill himself. A couple of friends found Bob after he had shot himself in the chest, but he was still alive. They put him in the back seat of their car and asked Carrie to take him to the
hospital. The friends could not drive because their
licenses were suspended for drunk driving.
the night. But by morning, when Carrie visited him, Bob was still alive and
remarkably, doing well.
room, he prayed to God to take away his alcoholism,” Carrie said. Later,
he asked for a Bible. For perhaps the first time in his life, Bob began to read
God’s Word. He was fully aware that if not for the grace of God, he
would be dead by his own hand. Now, he
vowed, whatever time he had left would be lived for God. Carrie learned later
that after Bob shot himself, before he passed out he had prayed, “Oh God, don’t
let it end this way.”
recover in the hospital. On day three, he was taken for X-rays and was mended
beyond scientific explanation. Two days later, Bob was released, totally
healed.
many times. They began dating; initially going to church. Bob never drank or
used drugs again and God became the center of their lives. They were changing
together and their marriage found a new life in Christ, falling in love all
over again—this time rooted in Christ.
after month, parenthood eluded them. “I carried the deep pain of barrenness
daily, but it became especially overwhelming at Mother’s Day,” Carrie said.
“At church one Sunday, a special tribute was given to moms, asking them to
stand and be blessed. The pain crushed me. I ran out of the service
and cried for the rest of the day.”
was pronounced sterile. “Lord, what is
going on?” she cried. “You restored our marriage and now we are ready to accept
a child. I believe in my heart that you
have promised us a child!”
God would give her child remained, but year after year, there was no baby.
and dedicate to God. This assurance also grew in Bob. “But how and when?” she
wondered. They looked into adoption but we both had a strong sense that it was
not God’s will for them.
their hearts, but they were crushed when it turned out they could not adopt
him.
so strongly that you have a child for us?”
that she would not bear a child. But the stubborn feeling that one day she
would be a mother refused to leave her.
might be pregnant but it was more likely to think that menopause was starting
or something more serious. Since a relative had just been diagnosed with
cancer, Carrie went to see a doctor when the symptoms persisted. In the
recesses of her mind, the thought of a pregnancy still flickered. After
all, with God all things are possible, she thought.
positive for pregnancy, she was stunned. “I’m pregnant after 21 years of
marriage!” she thought ecstatically. “Could it really be? Me? Pregnant?” Carrie
shakily dialed Bob’s work number. “Bob, I’m pregnant!” she screamed.
21 years of marriage was overwhelming. He took the rest of the day off
work so they could celebrate.
now a beautiful, 20-year old, loving daughter. “We have dedicated her to the Lord and never
stop thanking Him for this indescribable blessing,” Carrie said. “And we are in
awe at our daughter’s spirit-filled enthusiasm for God. Those 21 years were
worth waiting for Hannah, our child of promise.”