Tags
2012 NFL Draft, Blog, God, Holly Michael, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, juvenile diabetes, NFL Draft, Prayer, type 1 diabetes, www.writingstraight.com
In my A to Z blog challenge, I wanted to wait and blog a “Y is for Yahoo,” but thought of this Y post instead. My hope is to post a yahoo later. For now, I’m posting “Yours.” Here’s why:
Today, with anxiety and anticipation, I wait to hear if my son Jake will be drafted into the NFL. It takes me back 22 years when I was admitted in the hospital and with anxiety and anticipation, I listened to the doctor. He said, “You will most likely miscarry.”
It had been a rough morning. Crimson bed sheets. Cramps. Telltale clots. Didn’t look good four months into my pregnancy. The doctor offered zero hope.
Shortly after he left, a nurse entered the room, not checking me physically, but examining my emotional state. “Have hope,” she said, before she patted my hand and left.
Though I never saw that nurse again, her words sparked hope and ignited my first grown-up prayer. It was simple. “My baby is yours, God.”
I was young, scared, and needed someone way bigger than me to deal with something I couldn’t handle. I remember telling God that though I wanted this baby with all of my heart, whatever the outcome, I would trust Him. If the outcome was not what I wanted, I would be sad, but I would still trust that it was His will. It was a decision. A prayer.
After the prayer, a wave of peace washed over me. God gave me an immediate answer. When another nurse came into the room, I heard Jake’s heartbeat for the fist time.
A few months later, when Jake was born and I looked into his eyes for the first time, I was sure I glimpsed Heaven in those eyes. A look of wisdom of his knowledge of where he’d just been. He connected with me, peered deep into my eyes and cooed. The moment stunned me. I felt as if the coos were a thank you for the prayers I’d offered months earlier. Then, in an instant, the look in his eyes switched to that of an innocent newborn.
From that moment, I knew God had a purpose for Jake to be born. I also realized that my prayers would be an important part of his life. When he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his teens, and my anxiety would get the best of me, I would again tell God, “He is yours.”
Today, as we wait to see if Jake is drafted in the NFL, I remind myself to let go of my anxiety and pray the same prayer I offered twenty-two years ago, and repeated many times: “Lord, He’s yours. Whatever the outcome, he belongs to you.”
emmalmoore said:
Holly this is so beautiful. God heard you twenty-two years ago. He’s still listening as you remind Him. Blessings.
Emma
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Emma!
Naomi Baltuck said:
Hi Holly, this is a really sweet post!
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Naomi. We are waiting and watching the draft on TV
Naomi Baltuck said:
I wish you all the best! I’ve got my fingers crossed for good news.
Trina Lambert said:
I, too, had early pregnancy scare–that’s when I found out there was no explanation for the scary symptoms–and *two* intact sacs!. I admire the strength of your faith in God’s plan for your son. May today show you what comes next!
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Trina!
Maggie Evans said:
Holly, how beautiful, I have been thinking of you & Jake and your family the last couple of days. Hoping for a Yahoo! also.
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Maggie! We’re glued to the TV!
dreambelievefly said:
Wow. Thank you for sharing this story. Your prayer 22 years was brave and God heard you surrendering total to Him. Just like Abraham did with Isaac. Such a touching blog. Thanks Holly. God bless you. I’ll be hoping to read soon that YOUR son made the draft!! 🙂
Holly Michael said:
Thanks!!! Hope so! Jake is also at peace, embracing God’s will for his life.
Francene Stanley said:
This story brought tears to my eyes. To offer the outcome of your pregnancy to God is wonderful. And I know you would have meant it. Of course, the outcome of everything is out of our hands.
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Francene! Jake is calm and accepting God’s plan for his life.
A.D. Duling said:
Prayers and finger crossed, this is so wonderful! I have two preemies, one was 9 weeks and the other was 16 weeks premature…thier gonna be big boys…good luck Jake!!!!!!
Holly Michael said:
Lol! Jake was also a preemie! I forgot to mention that. He’s had a lot of obstacles against him.
Annalisa Crawford said:
A lovely post. When my first son was born and put into my arms, he stopped breathing. Luckily he was whisked straight away, and sorted out. I’ll never forget that first half-hour of his life. I wish Jake well with the NFL!
Becky Doughty said:
What a wonderful way to wait – by remembering the blessings that brought you to this hour.
You’re an inspiration, Holly.
Continued prayers….
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Becky!
rachelleayala said:
So thankful that you handed Jake to the Lord and He’s blessed him. What a heartwarming post. Good luck to Jake in the draft.
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Clare…in the sixth round. one round left. We are lifting him up to the Lord for God’s plan in his life
A Common Sea said:
It’s a beautiful post, Holly! A testament to having faith. I’ve said that prayer with each of my children, giving them up to the Lord. It’s a little scary, humbling, and relieving all at the same time. It reminds me of Kahlil Gibran’s poem about children, in which he says “They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”
I was going to say that I hope Jake is blessed today, but that’s silly, because he’s obviously quite blessed 🙂
~Lynn
Holly Michael said:
I love that poem. Hadn’t heard it before. He is blessed. He says he’s ready for whatever plan God has for him
Glenda Mills said:
Holly, thank you for sharing your beautiful story about your son Jake. I love your heart of surrender. I believe it pleases the one you trust for the outcome of jakes’s life. To trust Him no matter what…sounds like the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, let Your Kingdom and Your will be done…(:
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Glenda
Anne Camille said:
Oh Holly! I so needed to read this today. You are like that nurse to me right now. My baby is getting ready to graduate in two weeks and embark on a career that he has always wanted — flying in the USAF. What worry and anxiety I have while at the same time being happy for him that he is achieving his dream. I just have to let go. And trust.
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Anne. We have to give them to God, who knows the plan He has for their lives.
Holly Michael said:
Last round pick is now on in the draft and I’m reminding myself that God does have the perfect plan for Jake, as he does your son, too.
doreenb8 said:
Such a beautiful post Holly. I am visiting from the Christian Authors Facebook Page and happy to see you are also participating in the A-Z. I need to catch up tonight I’m 2 days behind. I hope your sons dreams come true.
Holly Michael said:
Still waiting…to see…if he’s not drafted, maybe he’ll go as a free agent. Thanks for coming over here!
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Wade Webster said:
It’s so great to see you hand your son off to God and now see the results.
Reading through this post and the comments reminds me of the similarities of a writer’s journey. We send our manuscripts out to agents and publishers to see if anybody will pick us up. If not then we always have the option of self-publishing. All the while knowing that these are God’s stories that He will get out there to reach the people He’s ordained to reach.
It looks like you both have your hearts in the right place.
Holly Michael said:
Thanks Wade. It is like that. I told Jake, “Now I need to get my big contract!”
Lindsey Hebert said:
Wow! I can relate to this on sooo many levels. I am a type I diabetic diagnosed at age 16, currently 5 months pregnant with a son, and a die-hard New Orleans Saints Fan! So needless to say, your blog brought tears to my eyes! What an impact your faith has had on your life and obviously your son’s life. What an inspiration! I work as a diabetes educator at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Our department will definitely be watching to see the great things that Jake will do & look forward to encouraging our patients to not let diabetes hinder their dreams! May God bless you and Jake and of course- the New Orleans Saints!
Holly Michael said:
Thank you so much Lindsey. Best wishes and blessings for you and your child. I’ll share this note with Jake right away. Thanks for stopping by.