On the twelfth day of Christmas my dear Lord gave to me three beautiful children!!
Two years ago on the Epiphany we brought our sons home.
One year ago on the Epiphany we brought Grace home from the NICU.
I love this picture as they just threw their arms around each other without any prompting.
For years Aaron and I would pray the Christmas novena with the intention being for the gift of children. I had heard so many promises associated with the novena, how powerful it was, the answered prayers that came from it. So each year we prayed this beautiful prayer and it seemed far too many years went by and I was still left hoping. Disappointed as I wondered if my prayer would ever be answered or if it was being heard.
Fast forward years later. We received word the beginning of December 2014 that we could finally travel to Ghana to get the boys’ visas and meet them for the first time. We left for Ghana the day after Christmas, met them for the first time on my birthday and landed home on the Epiphany. The twelfth day of Christmas.
Last year our little Grace made her arrival six weeks early via emergency c-section. After being told she would be in the NICU two to three weeks she only had to stay for nine days. We brought her home on the Epiphany. The twelfth day of Christmas.
Do I believe in Christmas miracles. Yes. Does God still manifest his face today as he did at the very first Christmas in the infant lying in the manger. Absolutely. All I need to do is look at the sweet face of each of my beautiful children and I see God’s love, I see his face. Each one of them an answer to my prayer, a prayer I thought had gone unanswered.
The tradition only seems fitting then that we wait to celebrate our family’s Christmas until the Epiphany. As the wise men brought their gifts to the Christ child, I wonder what gift I can ever give him in return for the gift of these precious souls he has entrusted to me.
Some say it is coincidence, but I say it is providence. God’s perfect plan revealed at his perfect time.
Amen, what a beautiful testimony of God’s love and faithfulness. It tells us to Never give up belIrving in his promises to us
Thank you! So true, He is always faithful!
The special meaning the Epiphany has for your family is beautiful! God is so good. <3
Thank you, Amen!!