LCF

Jesse and I have been praying about what scripture to use for Jude.  I have to say, I was very overwhelmed at first at this request.  My first thought was there is an entire Bible full of verses, how are we to know which verse is the right one; which is why I am very confident at what God has shown us.

The verse that we have chosen is:

...We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26

What is neat is that we both chose this verse, separately.  And when we shared with each other what verse we were going to use, this was the one.  We want to raise Jude to trust God and know that when he's talking to Him, God is listening; and even when we don't know what to say, He is still listening.

We all know that when I got pregnant with Jude, I was having a very hard time.  I was ready to give up completely, but I so desperately wanted God to intervene.  I felt like I had lost control and was starting to drink, take pills and do other destructive things.  I think God knew that getting pregnant would put my brakes on, because I would not dare hurt a child.  And I did put my brakes on, allowing me to regroup and start getting things back in order.

We found out that Jude was on his way in June; it was in the beginning of July that God gave Jesse and I the name Jude.  Whether the baby was a boy or a girl, the name would be Jude.  At the end of September I became curious of what the name Jude actually meant, it was September 27th to be exact.  This is what God revealed to me, and I shared with Jesse who was just as awed as I was.  Jude was an apostle who was invoked (to petition or call on for help or aid) in prayer when a situation seemed hopeless.

Our situation seemed hopeless, and then here came Jude; which allowed me to clear my mind and start to focus on  God.  When Jude was born our hearts were torn.  Having to leave him in NICU, and not even being able to hold him, touch him or even see him for a couple days after having him  was heart wrenching.  We were pushed in to complete trust in God.  We were unknowingly being made to pray with confidence and complete senserity. Even still, I know that I pray for him every night, that he will be protected through the night. 

David is Trust, Mary is Patients, Isaac is Laughter, and Jude is Prayer. 

Our Pastor, Bob Kuehner, asked me to write something about what a baby dedication means to us.  So I put together three of the most important reasons we like to have our children dedicated. After discussing my reasons with him, I added a fourth.

Before I give the three reasons I would like you to know why being a mother is so awesome for me.  I love children, and always have.  I started working with children and babysitting when I was 12.  I then started working in a daycare when I was 14, even though I was not old enough to get paid and could only volunteer, I treated it as a paying job.  I would ride my bike up to the daycare every summer morning and work till the afternoon, helping the teachers in the classrooms.  From then up until I was 27/28 I worked in some form of childcare. 

Before Jesse and I got married I told him I wanted 14 kids, we laughed about it and said we would take what God gave us.  Right before we got married I was told that I would never have kids.  I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and told that if we wanted children, we would have to adopt.  A year later David was born, the doctor said that "miracles happen"  but not to count on having any more.  Even another doctor in Decatur told us that having another child was not going to happen and she set us up with having a complete hysterectomy in Huntsville.  Instead of picking up the pills that would start the process, I picked up a pregnancy test instead.  And that's when we found out we were having Mary.  The doctor was shocked and said that "well, anything is possible I guess".  And then came Isaac and now Jude.  Our children are true blessings and gifts, and I'm so very thankful for each one of them.

The first reason for a dedication is that it is an outward expression in our decision to willingly raise our child in a way that is pleasing to God. To raise our newborn and all of our children in a household that worships God while teaching them to fellowship with God by being a living example.

The second reason is that it is a chance to ask those we worship with and our family to help us in raising , directing, guiding, teaching and praying for our child in the admiration of God our Father.  I have heard that it takes a village to raise a child; we're asking that those we worship with and our family to be that village.

The third reason is that it is a vow that we, our "village" and God enter into.  We've had our other children dedicated, David at Alabaster Church of God, and Mary and Isaac at Meadow View Community Baptist Church. The children are still very involved with their grandparents at those churches.  And the prayers, support and love we receive from those "villages" goes back, we feel, to the vow that was made with each child between us, God and the "village".

The fourth reason is that it is an opportunity for Jesse, as the spiritual leader of our household, together with me as his one-flesh partner and help mate to confer a "priestly blessing" upon our son.

We are by no means, "perfect parents."  But with God's help, many times through "the village" we can be Godly parents.