Amazing Grace

They came to church.

A family,

celebrating life, but not just any life.

 Baxters life.

A little baby born on the 16th day of August.

This is his story told by me;   of the night he was

born and his first Sunday at church worshiping

with his family 

You might not ever notice the little boy

under the red blanket

but we notice.

His name is Joseph Baxter and he weighed 4lbs

when he was born. We all knew that Baxter would

be born special. Spinal Bifida would be his calling in life

and his family stood ready to help him live his calling out.

 We, his church family, stood ready.

Just as the night he was born we were  

together in a little room praying and pacing the halls of the

hospital while he was being born. We searched the faces of

the Doctors and nurses that went past us hoping for some news

of Baxter, but none came.
I kept looking through the glass in the door

leading to the operating room and with my own heart raw with emotions wondering

what they must be going through.

I couldn't wait to see this little fellow. This little

 guy who we've all been praying for.
Ya see
 Our church is a praying

church and every Sunday we prayed for Baxter, weeks

and months before he was even born.

He was born and Baxters dad came and got us

and said "you can see him if you hurry."

We hurried.

We huddled together around a little

bed in the nicu while they finished cleaning him up

and we stood as close as you could get to each other.

Amazed,
 life was before us.

Not totally perfect in the world's view
 but

we knew totally perfect from God's view.

He has Trismoney 18 along with spina bifida.

No one knows how long Baxter will bless us with

his presence,
only the One who created him knows,

but in the mean time his parents share him with us.

He was released from the hospital on Friday and on Sunday morning

little Baxter was worshiping with us.

Fragile,and very frail, he was there. He was prayed over

and loved on and tears were scattered throughout our

little white church and I'm sure he heard us sing.
I'm sure he heard his mama sing

and felt her warm hands as she kept him safe under that little blanket.

We stayed for a long time after church, everyone wanting to linger with this family.

 They went to leave and once again the men of our church

never fail to amaze me.
They were putting kids in car-seats on one side of the van

and helping Baxter and his mom in on the other side. 
At least 4 men holding bags

and helping this family.

No one leaving until

all doors closed and the family was safe inside.

Until Baxter was safe.   

Once again

It reminds of why a church family

is so very important.

A church family is a gift

from the Lord.

 and a great privilege for me.