In November 2007, Finley Crampton was born a healthy boy in London, 3 weeks premature, at 6 lb. 3 oz. Nothing too unusual about that, until you hear the odds he beat. His mother Jodie decided to abort him at 8 weeks because she carries a gene which triggers multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) which is fatal when both kidneys are affected. Her first child had died from this just 20 minutes after birth. Her second child has MCDK, but survived with one kidney. Jodie, 25, said, “I couldn’t cope with the anguish of losing another baby.” So, she and the father Billy chose abortion, but somehow Finley survived!
Jodie was unaware her baby had survived the abortion attempt until months later when she felt him move in her womb. A scan confirmed she was 19 weeks pregnant. Her response? She said, “At first I was angry that this was happening to us, that the procedure had failed.” She berated the hospital, which insisted this was a rare anomaly. Later, she decided to keep the baby and after his birth, she said, “I knew if that operation hadn’t failed, he wouldn’t have been there. I just couldn’t believe that this child had gone through it all and looked so perfect. I still struggle to believe just what he has fought through. Now that he’s here, I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Finley has just minor kidney scarring and doctors expect he will live a normal healthy life.
My first thought, when reading this, was how God had saved this child for some noble purpose, like Moses. My prayer was for little Finley to grow up to know God, to discover God’s wonderful purpose for his life and to fulfill it with joy. Then it hit me that the same is true for every tiny baby, whether malformed, diseased or perfectly healthy. Whether welcomed by parents with delight, born after an abortion attempt, adopted or orphaned, every baby can grow to know what the Psalmist expressed so well. “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
The same is true of adults who were once tiny babies. We were all given the gift of life by our Creator, whether we are perfectly healthy or not. Every breath and every heartbeat are gifts from Him. He sustains us physically and spiritually. He displayed His indescribable love through the sacrifice of His own Son to free us from our guilt and shame. He has a special purpose for each of us! Have you discovered yours? Have you asked Him to help you know it and fulfill it?
I suggest you begin your quest for His purpose in your life by praying the last two verses of the same psalm. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Article copyright (c) 2009 by Charles G. Mickey. All rights reserved.
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