Worthy Of It All

This time last year, I was in the throes of my first trimester with hyperemesis. I spent a week in the hospital and was bedridden from the end of August, to the beginning of November, all with debilitating nausea and vomiting. I was on disability from work, couldn’t care for our son or household, rarely left the bed, stared holes into my ceiling, and saw the seasons change through my bedroom window. I was angry at God for allowing me to go through another sick pregnancy, one even worse than the first. I knew a baby was being formed in my womb but instead of joy I only felt misery. At least I had the hope of the joy that would overtake me once that little one was born. Exactly one year after my hospital stay, we got to celebrate and dedicate our bundle of joy to the Lord. I knew it would be worth it all, but God is the one that is worthy of it all.

I wish I had the words to convey how faithful God has been in my life. He has blessed me with more than I deserve, providing for my every need and giving me every desire of my heart. Yes, I have experienced loss, hardship, conflict, grief, disability, and despair. But God has walked with me through it all, continuing to provide, strengthen, and prove faithful every time.

Every aspect of my life shows God’s hand on it. He brought my husband to me when we were just teenagers and helped us grow together into adulthood. After marrying and moving to a new state with having no job, He opened the door for me to teach my favorite grade in the state’s number one school district. Knowing noone, He brought much needed friends and community through both my job and church. He provided a way for my husband to not only attend law school while working full time, but also pass the bar exam on the first try. He has blessed me with the most helpful, generous, caring, and loving family members. And He has blessed my husband and I with two perfect, healthy, and beautiful children.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” ‭‭- Revelation‬ ‭4:11‬

Growing up as a fifth generation pastor’s kid in a Pentecostal church, Baby Dedications have always been extremely important to my family and me. My dad pastored for thirty years and I just assumed he would dedicate our children at our church. However, by the time our first child was born, my dad was no longer pastoring and all of our family members were living across different states. We still wished for my dad to dedicate our son, but had to get creative. We decided to use the chapel at our alma mater which also happens to be where my dad currently works as President. Our families drove from all over to meet us at the chapel for a small intimate dedication. We dedicated our son, then dedicated our daughter in the same way three years later. Together we formally gave our babies back to God, dedicating them and ourselves to Him.

The word "dedicate" means to commit to a sacred purpose. Along with our families, we were able to dedicate our babies, committing them both to God and God’s purposes. My husband and I also dedicated ourselves as parents, committing to raise them in the love of the Lord and teach them how to fix their eyes on Jesus.

It was special being able to dedicate our babies with our families coming from all over to the university where we met. So much life has happened since we became college sweethearts, but bringing our two babies into the world has been the biggest blessing we will ever receive. God deserves all the glory and honor. He truly is worthy of it all.