I can't believe it! My baby is turning 21 today. At 4:15 pm he I will have given birth to him 21 years ago. Where in the world has the time gone?
I feel like it was just last night I was walking the culdesac we lived on in Phoenix, AZ trying to increase the contractions. I was so excited about finally having him, what he would look like, and how he would serve God with his life.
Branden was an unexpected baby but so wanted and loved when I found out he was to be. I had a great pregnancy and felt healthy yet I was a bit unsure whether or not I could raise four children these days, but God knew what he was doing, so in Him I put my trust. God had given me so many verses reminding me to trust Him, to not be afraid and that this baby would bring peace to our family. Something we needed desperately. At four months along, a pastor prophesied over my belly and told me this son born to us would be a prophet, a peaceful child and one which leads quietly. During this pregnancy I encountered a miracle of healing for several of my teeth, and knew God was with me and this child. This could have never been more truth in the years to come.
The birth was as easy as could be. 3 1/2 hours of hard labor and he was out and exploring the world. Alert and calm, he nursed peacefully and the peace within his soul drew others to him. Satan saw the mark on this child and immediately began his appointments to take him. From illness to injury, Branden roughed it through them all. God's protection was hard at work and He never let Branden slip too far from His grasp of help. Stitches here and there, a concussion and double pneumonia, croup and bent bones, God was faithful to limit satan on what was allowed and what was not. Many times we almost lost Branden, but never was he out of God's reach.
One night when he had double pneumonia and croup, the doctors told us to take him home and stay with him, for he was weak and may not live. The elders and friends of the church we attended at the time, came at the midnight hour and prayed over Branden. When they left, I spent the night rocking my dear little boy, so frail and sickly, breathing so shallow he closed his eyes with his mom's tears resting gently upon his cheeks form time to time. I battled before God not to take my baby boy, and He set me upon a rock, upon a mountain with an alter a foot in front of me. I labored to think what He was going to ask of me, yet through hours of intense turmoil and shattered hope, God met me where I was and gently asked me to let him go. To give him back, reluctantly I did and laid him in his crib, fully expecting to see a lifeless little body in that crib when I woke in the next few hours.
I had cried to the point there were no more tears, and I quietly slipped myself into bed and heard God simply say, fear not. But I did, yet I knew whether He took my baby boy or not, the will of God was most important and that if it meant for Branden to go home with Him, so be it. I fell off to sleep weary and worn but a God had placed a glimpse of hope within my heart.
Upon waking just hours later, I slowly headed down the hallway, the same hallway to Branden's room that normally I would hear him talking to someone, playing quietly awaiting his mom's presence and smile yet I heard nothing but stillness. I took a deep breath and swallowed hard, yet dropped not a tear as I turned the corner and peered towards his bed. As I moved closer, I saw he was not moving from the looks of his little leg, but when I got to the edge of the crib, his face was beaming, the biggest smile I had ever seen and he quickly raised his hands to me and said, "Mama."
I reached down and grabbed him, held him to my chest and cried sweet tears of thankfulness. Not only had God spared his life, God has completely healed my little boy of all infirmity! He was as healthy as the day he was born.
God spoke to me and said, because I gave up his life, God gave him back to me....for a time....to raise Branden as the man God intended him to be, and this I have wholeheartedly and joyfully done. What a blessing to know God provided the perfect sacrifice for my sins, my son's sins and the world's sins. Jesus took Branden's place so that Branden might live and have everlasting life. That Branden could have abundant life while on this earth, doing the work of His heavenly Father.
What a wonderful son Branden has grown to be. Thank you God for giving us another chance with this prophet of yours. Thank you for giving Branden life as He chooses to follow after You with his whole heart and soul. Thank you God, for this precious son you allowed me to carry, birth, raise and take part in his life with You.
Matthew 16:25 Whoever desires to save his life (or in this case, Branden's), will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake (or give's up as in Branden's life), will find it.
What a wonderful God we serve!
