Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Just a few years ago I was faced with the wonderful and terrifying task of choosing the name for my precious unborn child I was carrying. I was eighteen years young and the biggest decision I had made before this one was probably what dress I was wearing to prom. I was, in a word: petrified.
I love the special story behind my name. It gives me an incredible sense of worth and purpose. I wanted the same thing for my daughter.
I finally decided to actually meet her before I named her. I just felt compelled to spend time with her before I chose the name she'd have for the rest of her life. (Or at least until she decided to change it to Princess Consuela Crapbag.)
After she was born it took me three whole days to name her. When I was going through possible names, one name continued to stand above the rest: Grace.
After spending those first few days with her I knew there was no other alternative. This was my little Grace. My miracle through the storm. She is my saving, amazing Grace.

grace:
how you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain. and, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson. in the end, it all comes down to one word. grace. it’s how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, the darkness and the light.

I am so blessed to have her. I do not deserve her. Life is hard and I cannot imagine it without Grace. And to think of the countless nights not so long ago I was on the bathroom floor...begging and pleading with God to just let me not be pregnant. Man.
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. He knows what He’s doing. When He takes something away there’s a reason. I can’t help but smile knowing such an awesome God is looking out for me and my daughter.