Through The Eyes of Jesus: Whom do we honor?

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Whom do we honor?

Mother's Day always brings many mixed feelings at our home. Some of our children have had many mothers and it get confusing for them. Exactly whom do we honor? I personally choose to honor all of them.

Birth Mothers; Were it not for them I would not have had the opportunity to experience the joys and sorrows of parenting my adopted children. I know their birth mothers all lost a treasured child. Some may have not realized just how treasured their children were until they were gone.
Foster Mothers; They provided a safe home where my children could stay until a permanent home could be found.
Adoptive Mothers; They traveled to foreign lands to reach out and help an orphaned child. Their hope was for a, "happy ever after" ending and it just didn't work out that way. Today I choose to remember their loss as it ultimately became my blessing.

Today is a day I especially pray for AJ's birth mother. She holds a very dear place in my heart. She went against what most of society would do in a very difficult situation. She chose to continue with an unplanned pregnancy. She did not blame her unborn child for the wrong that had been done instead she allowed AJ to live. I know she suffered in silence; keeping her pregnancy a secret that is still hidden from all that know her. She expected to feel a sense of relief after his birth but instead was faced with AJ's diagnosis of EB and the knowledge that she was a carrier of the disorder. She is in our prayers that she would experience the fullness of the gospel in her life.

When people ask to pray for AJ, I often ask them instead to pray for his birth mother because:

Life with EB is possible with Christ.

Life without Christ is simply unbearable.

So thank you to all of the mothers in my children's lives. Your sacrifices made it possible for me to celebrate mothers day today.

I Samuel 1:27-28 (English Standard Version)

For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me

my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to

the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.

May we recognize that our children are gifts that belong to the Lord. May we willingly place them into his care.

Happy Mother's Day,

Barbara

1 comment:

G. FigaroaMay 8, 2011 at 3:58 PM
I hope you are having a happy and blessed day. :)
-- Carmen Figaroa
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What is Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa?

It is a rare genetic disorder that causes AJ's skin to blister and tear with the slightest friction or contact. He can have severe blistering anywhere on his skin. Internally his mucus membranes and organs are affected. Due to blisters in his mouth and throat, he eats very little by mouth and receives his primary nutrition through a gastrostomy-jejunostomy tube (G-J) that is placed in his stomach and small intestine. He struggles with breathing at times as blisters form in his mouth, throat and upper airway. There is no cure for EB. AJ will live with constant pain and scarring. With each tear to his skin, the skin scars and eventually limits his movement. His fingers and hands will begin to fuse and curl together. The only treatment for EB is daily wound care and bandaging. Each day we unwrap his body, bathe him, treat his open wounds and then wrap him up all over again. AJ has many medical providers that help us with his care. He has a power chair that he uses in the community to reduce the friction on his feet. He also takes many medications to reduce the acid reflux that damages his esophagus and to help with the intense itching that EB creates. Children that do not succumb to infection, malnutrition or airway complications develop an aggressive form of skin cancer in their teen years. Children with AJ’s disorder are often referred to as, “Butterfly Children” as their skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wing.