Don't Miss Now

​The first words I read this morning were in a Facebook post written by my friend Danielle. I met Danielle a couple of years ago through work. She's become a colleague I admire and a friend I deeply treasure and trust.

She wrote this morning about her fertility journey. She and her husband Chance have been trying to have a baby the last couple of years. To their suprise, in January, trying became reality. They are going to have a baby.

Their excitement had a challenge thrown into it when testing revealed there is an 86% chance their baby will be born with Downs Syndrome. They will have testing done in May to confirm the diagnosis for sure. In Danielle's words, they are having that testing done "because we want to be the most prepared in order to give this child the BEST life possible."

Danielle described the emotional swings she's been on with each revelation of the tests. She expressed gratitude for all the family and friends who have been there and who have been praying for her and Chance. But then she said something about the additional prayers they are seeking that stopped me in my early morning tracks.

She said:

"While we appreciate ALL prayers for a healthy baby, what we would like to refrain from is "praying the diagnosis away" or "praying for a miracle." We don't share this for pity or attention or so that you feel sorry for us. It's not that we don't have faith in the miraculous but we feel as though God has answered our prayers for a child as HE intended too. HE is showing us his goodness and HE is strengthening us for this something hard journey but also opening our eyes for something beautiful. HE is building our faith DAILY."

I read those words. I read them and I so admired the love my friend has for God. Because her words - that kind of trust - that kind of gratitude - that is love.

And her words made me take a look at myself. And MY love for God. Her words made me ask, just how often am I'm praying for God to deliver a different diagnosis of my life - a different situation - at the expense of not seeing that God is "opening my eyes for something beautiful" right now.

I found myself asking, how often am I waiting for something to be grateful for at the expense of being grateful for all that I have right in front of me right now?

I found myself asking, how often am I missing the miracle in the life I'm living while I'm praying for the miracle I want to live?

Sometimes the miracles in our lives haven't occurred yet, not because they haven't occurred, but simply because we haven't noticed them.

Danielle - thank you friend for pointing me toward my miracles. Not the ones out there somewhere; but the ones right here right now.

And my friend, as much as I've admired you before, never have I admired you more. Yes - certainly your faith is part of that admiration. But more - I am suddenly seeing you as a new mama. A mama whose heart is full of love for the miracle that is living in you right now.

I am happy for you and Chance. I am REALLY happy for your miracle. Your baby will have for a mama one of the most kind and loving people I know.

Congratulations sweet friend.