By Yay Padua-Olmedo
Nick Vujicic blew into town recently, drawing SRO crowds where he spoke, with audiences chewing his every word as he testified of God’s amazing grace. Without fail, this handsome and charismatic speaker just let rivers of tears and conviction flow simultaneously from people who suddenly realized that if this guy without arms and legs can do it, so could they, because they have a God who enables—exceedingly—no matter how insignificant, down and out, or trash-worthy they think their lives have been.
I won’t add anymore to the reams or bytes of e-texts written about Nick. Most of them have been deeply inspirational and life changing.
I’ve attempted this little message though for every mother currently struggling with feelings of condemnation, inadequacy or guilt that they have brought into this world a baby just like Nick.
No one could know for sure how a mother’s heart dies when she is told that the baby she just gave birth to has been diagnosed as either missing or having some extra body parts, with a hole in his heart or a dextrocardia (heart turned to the right), blood abnormality, or has Down’s syndrome or any kind of disability.
“What sin have I committed that my baby came out this way?”
“I can’t—I don’t know how to—deal with this.”
“Is there ever a way out of this? Will my baby ever be a normal child?”
“How can we cope with this? Financially? As a family?”
Guilt. Blaming yourself or looking for someone to blame, even blaming God. Helplessness. Anger. All these come on you like a heavy ceaseless downpour, blurring everything; and sending you a downward spiral toward depression, even thoughts of, “It’s probably better to just end it all.”
And it may take years to extricate oneself out of it.
And what about mothers who have decided to abort or given their unwanted babies for adoption because they were simply not ready for the responsibility—then find themselves eternally hounded by their seemingly unpardonable sin?
One such mother’s life-altering ordeal eventually led her to Jesus Christ. In the same way that Jesus became the answer to Nick’s helpless situation, this mother found her answer only in Christ. As she started to trust Jesus, she found hope in His promise to heal, to provide and to do exceedingly great on behalf of her baby.
What has happened has happened. We live in a fallen world where all sorts of tragedies occur. There are so many things we can’t explain; and we won’t know the answers until we see God face to face.
But Jesus is the only answer. Let the past just be a memory, something we learn from. As you humble yourself now before God, let Jesus wash away all the guilt and condemnation.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
As you walk free from the past, believe too that Jesus will turn everything in your child’s favor. “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Mothers who have come to Jesus have never been disappointed. Ever!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ms. Celia “Yay” Padua-Olmedo is an accomplished author of three inspirational books, the first two written for young people and yuppies: “Sorry to Burst Your Bubble: Life Leadership Lessons from the Greatest Dreamer,” and “Going Up? Making Right Choices at Work;” and to encourage other grandparents and parents about God’s promises for families: “Grandparenting: Happiness and Hard Work.” All are available at popular and OMF Literature book stores. To be launched soon is “Now that You’re Boss: Timely and Timeless Lessons for New (& Even Seasoned!) Leaders.”
“Going Up?” and “Grandparenting” are available in e-book format at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Yay%20Padua-Olmedo&search-alias=books
She is also a consultant and resource speaker on business and motivational topics; a part-time college instructor at the Southville Foreign University: and well-rounded in marketing, public relations and advertising. Yay is wife to Carmelo V. Olmedo with whom she has two children and three grandchildren.
