Milton, Leah and Their Miracle

He was a big guy.  Dark hair and intense eyes.  Tall and built like a linebacker.   I don’t think I could have gotten my arms completely around him if I had ever been brave enough to give him a hug.  I’d seen him at church a few times since we’d started attending about a year after moving to Virginia but had never had a chance to talk to him.  As if he’d want to chat with me anyway.  He looked way too intense to suffer any small talk.  I think I was a little intimidated by him.

Then one Sunday, he got up with the praise band and sang.  I almost fell out of my seat.  Not only did he have the voice of an angel, but the joy that radiated from him while he sang was just incredible.

After that, Milton looked completely different to me even though he hadn’t changed a bit.  I was no long intimidated by him but loved any chance I had to chat him up for little bit.  More and more I saw what a huge heart beat in that big chest and what a love for the Lord he had.  It oozed right out of him.

I then met the girl who would become his wife.  Leah was sweet.  Sweet in a way that I’ve always wanted to be but just could never quite pull off.  She had a calm spirit that just permeated any room she was in.  We did a Beth Moore bible study together and I loved her input.

It was so very obvious that they were crazy for one another.  They had the kind of relationship that you couldn’t help but envy, even if your own relationship was good.  You just knew they were meant for one another.

They married and had their first baby.  We moved away but kept up with them mainly through Facebook postings.  They still looked deliriously happy in their pictures and soon added another little soul to their family.  Life looked good.

Then late last year there was a posting from them.  Leah was pregnant with their third child and they had gotten some devastating news.  This precious baby boy had anacephaly.  He did not have a major part of his brain and if by some chance he made it to term, he could not live for any length of time outside the womb.

After much prayer, they decided that Leah would carry the baby as long as the Lord allowed.  And they prayed that if he did make it to delivery that they would have at least a few moments with him to say hello before they had to say goodbye.

Baby Solomon did indeed make it to delivery.  Last Friday they scheduled his delivery and even as they were driving to the hospital Milton and Leah were praising God and sharing their testimony with all of us.

Baby Solomon was indeed born on Friday.  And here is where the miracle comes in.

He’s been alive now for over 71 hours.  He has been able to nurse.  He has opened his eyes and looked at his mama and daddy.  He has met his family.  He has been sung to and prayed over and loved by so many.

He is getting weaker.  The inevitable will happen.  But the glory of this unexpected gift of time will be something that everyone who has been touched by this tiny baby will exclaim forever.

Our God is an awesome God.  His mercies are never ending.  He answers our prayers.  Sometimes beyond our wildest imaginings.

If you don’t believe it, just ask Milton and Leah.