Nurturing Our Soul

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Not long ago, I was asked to come to Maternity at the request of a patient named Martha. She reminded me that we had met some 10 years ago when her first child was born. At that time she was only 17 years old, alone, and facing many personal challenges. I remembered her because she cried a lot – sometimes out of joy and sometimes out of fear. At that time she wasn’t willing to share much of her life with me, but she made me promise that I would always remember her in prayer.

Now, 10 years later, Martha was no longer a child. After thanking me for coming and introducing me to her husband Frank, Martha told me her story.

At an early age Martha’s life had gone off track. She fell in with the wrong crowd and began doing things that were destroying her life. At home she received little support. Her mother was a drug addict and her abusive father left home to be with another woman when Martha was only 5 years old. With no one to properly raise Martha, her life soon spun out of control and she fell into a destructive behavior using drugs.

At age 17, Martha got pregnant. Everyone around her suggested that she abort the baby. How was she going to raise a child being so young? Nevertheless Martha didn’t have the courage or the heart to “give up” her child.

When the baby was born, Martha was moved by this gift from God. Truly happy for the first time in her life, she vowed that she would give him the care and love that she had not received. She named him Angel because he allowed her to feel what Heaven was like.

Martha took Angel home and for the first couple of weeks avoided alcohol and drugs. But her addiction would not let her rest. One night after she had placed Angel in bed, she stumbled across some crack cocaine in one of the kitchen drawers and was soon bingeing to the point of unconsciousness.

Martha awoke to her baby’s screams. She stumbled over to his crib and found him soaking wet and very cold. She looked at the clock and realized with horror that she had been passed out for 12 hours! Martha was so distraught over that incident that she made one of the most difficult decisions of her life –– she gave her child up for adoption.

Out of that experience, Martha realized that her life had to change. For the first time she reached out for help to her local church and found what she was searching for. Martha, with help, was able to free herself from drugs, complete her GED and began studying for a business degree. Within two years she moved out on her own and away from the environment that carried so many bad memories.

While completing her studies she met Frank, fell in love and married. Her life was full and happy. She never imagined it could be like this!

When Martha discovered she was pregnant, she went though a period of depression as the memories of her past life came flooding back – the guilt and regret of the sacrifice she made. Her constant prayer was for her baby to be healthy.

Overcome with emotion by her memories, Martha stopped to gain her composure. As Frank gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, the proud mother looked lovingly at her baby and said to me, “As you can see Chaplain, God has answered my prayers.” Turning her grateful eyes to me she continued, “I named him Milagro (miracle) because God has worked a miracle in my life and has given me a second chance. I never believed in miracles, but now I realize I’m living one.”

By Paul Crampton, Director of Chaplaincy Services