Best Mother’s Day Gift Ever—Answered Prayers

They were the most beautiful babies she had every seen; and of course, she was their mother. Two beautiful baby girls, so tiny and so pink. The nurse placed the tiny bundles in her arms for the first time and the new mother couldn't stop the flow of tears that ran down her cheeks. Almost two months premature, she had feared that they would have to stay in the hospital and she wouldn't be able to take them home right away. But the doctor had informed her that they were perfectly healthy and developed well for such an early arrival. Less than two weeks before Mother's Day. The young mother glowed through her tears-this year she would be a mother.

Caring for twins can be a handful for any mother and even more so for a first-time mother. Would she be good enough? As she looked down at the babies, she worried that she couldn't handle it. So much to do, so many special needs. Where would she find the help that she would have to have to be the good mother that she would have to be?

"Please, God. Give me strength. Help me to do all the right things. Help me to make their lives become a credit to my faith in You." She prayed and the tears came again.

_ _ _ _

The months had flown by and the babies had thrived under her nurturing care. She had done it all alone. She sat alone in the waiting room exactly one year to the day in the same hospital where her babies had been born. Although her body was tired, her mind was still lively and focused entirely on the task at hand. God had answered her prayers over that past year and her beautiful babies were happy and healthy. But today was a true test of her faith in Him and she was asking for just one more prayer to be answered.

"Please, God, watch over my babies and bring them through this ordeal safely. If it be your will." She prayed again and again. And she cried again as she had that same day they had been born.

Today her babies would be separated. Co-joined at the tops of their heads, they could not go through life end to end. They could both live or they could both die or one could live and the other die. The doctors had explained everything to her so that she would have a thorough understanding of what lay ahead for little Maude Amiee and May Emily.

They gave her no false promises; they were only doctors and could only do what they could do. The rest, they said, was out of their hands. So she prayed and waited. And thought about her tiny daughters and how they smiled and their dark eyes sparkled up at her as she talked to them. Telling them bible stories and reading to them her favorite scriptures from the Bible. She wanted them to grow up with a strength that she knew would be required of them.

She thought only of her babies; she never thought again of the husband who never returned after seeing his baby daughters for the first time. Without bitterness she watched him walk away and knew his weakness had no place with them. She had never thought to question, why her? Why her children? Nature made mistakes just like humans. It happened, without plan, without prejudice.

Looking up at the clock again. Two hours had passed and the hand ticked one more minute with a loud click. She tried to picture the operating room and how far the procedure had progressed-she couldn't. She couldn't let her mind dwell on her babies suffering. They had been through so much. The series of surgeries that preceded this final phase. If her prayers were answered as she had faith that they would be, her babies would be two separate individuals-separate but sharing.

Startled from her revere she looked up at the doctor. "Mrs. Jameson." More a statement than a question-she knew him well.

"Yes?" Her question however was in her eyes.

"Your babies are fine. You will be able to see them shortly. I'll send the nurse for you." The doctor smiled and walked back down the hall.

She gasped, not realizing she had been holding her breath. Then she laughed and cried and laughed some more. "Thank you, God. Thank you God."

More answered prayers. And she would celebrate another Mother's Day for she had received-the best Mother's Day gift ever.

Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA, published by American Book Publishing. Also writes book reviews for Bookpleasures.com Visit my website for more info on my books and writings: http:www.sandragraham-articles-books.com