Our Newest Arrival

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior.”

~Isaiah 43:1-3

We got the call on Monday afternoon about a precious baby girl who was just two weeks old who was in need of our love and care. Her life may be limited. How could we say no?
I was also informed that I would be naming this precious baby girl. Monday evening I just spent time praying over her. Praying for her heart. She had been abandoned just 4 days prior, been moved to the orphanage and then to us. Her heart must be broken. I felt the Lord place her heart on mine. Here I thought I was praying for her spiritual heart….
Our precious little girl arrived about 11:30 p.m. Monday night and we left at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for the hospital and to find out what we were dealing with and how severe her condition is. After a series of tests, we found out that she had an even more severe problem than her anal atresia. She has a heart condition as well. One that if isn’t repaired, will kill her.

The moment she was laid in my arms, I was in love. How could I not be? This precious little gift from God who I have the privilege of loving and caring for until she meets her forever family. As I held her, gazing into her eyes, I couldn’t help but think of her birth mother. Is she grieving? Does she know that her baby girl is okay? Did she know how poor her health was? Did she even want to give her up? So many questions and no answers. All I know, is that this little girl needs love.
What would I name her? I mean, I haven’t really named children too much in my life! I went through a few after amazing women I know in my life, but none seemed to fit. Then I remembered a name that I just love. I think it’s just beautiful. And as I looked at her picture, I KNEW that this was it. I love the meaning of names, so I looked it up. And it means “freedom.” As I was praying over her the night of her arrival, I just felt God lay on my heart that she is free in Christ. That there is pain and there is brokenness in this world, but in Him, we can be free. She can be free and her heart can be free. She is very sick right now, but she will heal. God is going to work a miracle in her life.

As I held her, talked to her, sang to her, and prayed over her in the hospital, Isaiah 43:1-3 came to my heart over and over again. Clearly God was trying to tell me something. He KNOWS this little girl by name and He loves her. Maybe her life didn’t start out like she would have liked, but her life is a miracle. She is precious and she is created in the image of God. He has such good plans for her life and she belongs to Him. She may be an orphan here on earth, but she is God’s daughter. No matter what obstacles we encounter with her life, the Lord will carry us through.

Will you please keep precious her in your prayers?

Anneli