It is a “good” Friday

Today is a big day in our home, not only because it’s easter weekend. Today, we celebrate the 8th birthday of my youngest son.

It was 8 years ago that Lori and I drove to the hospital for a planned “inducing”, since Lori was past due date. This was our 3rd child, so we figured all would go smoothly. We stopped for breakfast then headed to the hospital to check-in. We decided over breakfast that we would name our new son “Andrew”, a name Lori and I had always loved. We settled in the room, got ready, and waited. We talked, laughed, prayed and waited.

Sometime mid-morning everything went wrong. A buzzer started to sound, the nurse ran in and checked Lori and the baby. She began to yell for help, and our world was rocked for the next few minutes. A doctor ran in, checked, and assessed that the cord was “kinked”, and our baby wasn’t getting any oxygen. He shouted for everyone to prepare for an emergency C-section.

I remember looking at Lori, and both of us being scared. I began to cry, and Lori unbelievably was consoling me I signed papers (waivers), our personal doctor came running in, and we were off to the surgery room. They prepped Lori, I got dressed in scrubs, and within seconds the surgery began. I remember pleading with the Lord to protect Lori and Andrew, guide the surgeons, and give us a miraculously healthy baby.

Literally within a minute, before Lori’s anastesia had fully taken, they had performed the surgery. They took out this perfect little boy and handed him to me (I got 1st’s). The doctor’s assured me Lori was fine. I spent the next minutes holding this miracle and thanking God for this blessing.

As I stared at my son, praying and thanking God, it hit me. This was not an Andrew, this boy is a “Joshua”, a strong and courageous leader. The name Joshua is a type of the name Jesus (a foreshadowing in Scripture). When Lori woke up about a half hour later, I handed her our son and said “meet Joshua”. She said “who?” I told her the story and she loved it; a very special name for a very special boy.

I’m amazed 8 years later at God’s goodness and provision in so many areas of our life, but particularly today for Josh. He’s an incredible young man who loves Jesus. He truly is strong and courageous. He’s a leader. I reminded him today that God has a huge plan and purpose for his life, so he’s got a responsibility to live it out.

Happy Birthday Josh, you truly are a gift from God!