Trophies

A few weeks ago I attended a  Kingdergarten  awards ceremony for my youngest daughter, Elizabeth. Just being able to write that is a miracle in itself. All of my five beautiful girls are adopted and have faced their own  challenges. Elizabeth was born with serious health challenges related to drug use while she was in the womb. She was not expected to live, but fought her way into the world 7 weeks early and survived. God blessed me to be at home with her for the first year. We would rock in the glider and pray and sing in between all the doctor's visits and therapy sessions she needed. The first few months of her life were spent fighting withdrawal pains and being constantly poked, prodded and tested. She had to fight for things that come normal to most kids, like sitting up, crawling and walking. We prayed, and laughed and cried with her every step of the way.

During the awards ceremony, there were two sets of awards given - academic and social. Due to some delays we are still conquering, she did not receive an academic award and had to sit and wait through all of those being called. I watched her and kept smiling at her as she waited. I could tell she didn't understand why her name hadn't been called yet. Once she even got up and started toward the front, but then sweetly sat back down when I shook my head no and motioned her back to her seat.

Finally, her name was called... Elizabeth Beck! She received the glowing personality award for always making everyone in her class smile. I watched her receive her award, and thought she would go back to her seat like all of the other kids had. Instead of taking the award back to her seat, she quickky ran to me, held it up in front of me so that I could see it, and then handed the award to me and ran off. All the other parents fussed over her being so sweet, but I couldn't say a word. My little fighter had brought me her trophy, and it was all I could do to hold it together.

In that moment, I knew that was what God wants from me. He wants me to run to him with my victories so that He can rejoice over me as well. I have faced a lot of challenges in my own life, though very different from Elizabeth's battles. We all have. There have been times when others thought we weren't going to make it. There were some days when we weren't sure ourselves if we would. But all the while Father God was holding us, declaring over us, and believing in us. Never once did He doubt we would make it or even consider giving up on us. What incredible joy it must bring to Him when we run to Him with our victories. Not just taking glory for ourselves, but giving it all to Him because we know that if He hadn't fought for us and with us, there would be no victory at all.

Don't be discouraged by delays and disappointments, my friend. No matter what you are facing right now, you are going to make it! You have someone in your corner who will never leave you or forsake you. No matter how long you have to wait for your turn to come, He'll sit smiling and waiting with you. Get ready to run to Him... your manifested victory is on the way!

Debbie Beck