My "To God be the Glory" Story

Yesterday our church choir presented an amazing cantata about God's presence in the midst of our trials. I was privileged to be able to share a short testimony as part of the program but that is not what I am blogging about today. The opening hymn yesterday was one that is very dear to my heart and has significant meaning. This is an amazing story of how God used the birth of a baby to change lives.

Children are one of God's greatest miracles. Being pregnant and knowing that a child is growing in your womb is amazing, exciting, and wonderful ... until you get to the ninth month! Then you just want it to be over and to hold that baby in your arms. This is how I felt in January of 1992. I was ready to have my body back.. What is taking so long? I'm tired and getting a bit grouchy. After all, the due date passed two weeks ago!

Finally, the pangs of labor. Let's get this over with!! What would transpire during the next few days would be among my most precious memories. The labor was difficult. The child was in danger. His heart rate kept dropping. The doctor was very concerned. The nurses prepped me for surgery. One more attempt and then off we'll go to surgery. Nicholas was born with a prayer and a push. When the doctor saw the umbilical cord, he was amazed. It was tied in a true knot. That knot could have cut off or reduce the baby's blood supply causing death or disability. This is the first miracle.

The second miracle is God's timing! While I was in labor my grandmother was admitted to the hospital. She was scheduled for surgery the next day and was dreading it. She was able to come to the birthing suite and hold that new little life. It was a joyful experience for all of us and turned what would have been an evening of dread into a special memory. I believe it was God's perfect timing to delay the birth until the umbilical cord was in the right position for delivery and for him to be used to touch my precious grandmother.

Fast forward a few days. It is Saturday evening. We had been home for a few days. Fatigue and several situations beyond my control have left me frazzled. I decide that Nicholas and I will skip church in the morning. After all, I have been very faithful in attendance and surely God will understand. It is the middle of the night. I am feeding my baby and reflecting upon the events of his birth. A song keeps going through my head. It is the chorus of the hymn "To God be the Glory." It keeps playing over and over. The words are:

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the people rejoice!

Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son

And give Him the Glory great things He has done!

I thought of my precious baby. His life was spared! He is healthy! God used him to bring joy to Grandma. Suddenly, I realized that by not going to church that I was missing an opportunity to give God the glory for this miraculous birth.

Sunday morning, we arrive at church, precious bundle in my arms. We slip into a pew next to our friend, Margie, lover of babies. We hand him to her and she holds him during the service. After the service we find out that her father had just died. She is now an orphan. Her siblings are gone too. She is the last of her family to survive. Yet God sent a baby fresh from the womb to comfort her and let her feel and experience new life. Thank you Lord for the nudge to go and let my son be used once again!

The presence of God was so close and brought even closer when I opened the bulletin to look at the morning's order of worship. I couldn't believe my eyes for in the program was the hymn "To God be the Glory!" Now I can't hear that hymn without remembering that glorious experience of God's presence and His love shown through a child named Nicholas.

To God be the glory!