FROM THE MAGAZINE - An Unseen Plan

This article originally appeared in She Heard Magazine, Summer 2021. Click HERE to find the Summer issue in our shop. ​

She died on the 7th of September, my birthday. It was less than two years since her husband passed and no one expected her sudden illness that led to her passing, especially my husband and his siblings.
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Standing in the same funeral home so soon had a terrible familiarity. How could this be happening? That question raced through my mind a multitude of times that day. What began as a possible case of bronchitis at the local urgent clinic led to an emergency hospital visit with an array of tests and a prognosis our family could not digest. It was confirmed that my mother-in-law had multiple heart attacks and only 10% of her heart was functioning. This news hit everyone hard and was further complicated by a diabetes diagnosis.

My mother-in-law was a strong, faith-filled woman. A mother of four who had lost her firstborn during a difficult birth. She had lived through the rawest of pain which should have been a very joyous time in a new mother’s life. It was her trust in God that helped her find joy years later with the birth of three more children.

As her body betrayed the assistance of the machines and medicines, we stood circling her hospital bed in the cold hospital room praying. She knew that her reward awaited her and her eyes were heavy and destined for home. As we quietly whispered our goodbyes and held her hands tightly, her grip eased and this lovely woman entered into eternal rest.
We had no idea what awaited us the following months. Tragedy brings heartache along with many questions to the deeper meaning of life. My husband and I had two beautiful girls who kept us busy and moving forward but the absence of his parents remained. On long walks, we discussed how short and unpredictable life was. We also talked about God’s purpose for our life.

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Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you-oracle of the Lord-plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”

We hoped to adopt later on but conversations began of trying to conceive another child. Our youngest daughter was only six months old. Pregnancy had not been easy and I was hesitant to trust a new plan; especially, a plan that would bring big change to our young family. Did we have enough room or enough money for another child so soon? Were we ready for another baby? Many questions peppered our minds and we didn’t have all the answers. We prayed and asked for God’s help. We trusted His plan for our lives not knowing if they included adoption or another biological child.

​Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely.”

Within a couple of months, we conceived our third child. We were very excited and nervous! On the 7th of July, our son was born and weighed 7 lbs. 7 ounces. Seven, a number throughout Sacred Scripture symbolic of completeness. God’s goodness was upon us and our baby boy’s life brought us great joy through the difficult time our family experienced by an unseen plan.

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Mary Wharton

Mary Wharton lives in Saint Augustine, Florida. She is married with 3 children. She left corporate America over 5 years ago to stop living a lukewarm Christian life and be intentional on living God’s plan for her life. It hasn’t been easy at times and she still has many questions, but God is faithful. She has learned that surrendering isn’t a weak characteristic but one of strength. She enjoys leading women’s ministry in her parish through Bible studies and speaking.

You can find her online blogging, sharing scripture or inspirational quotes here-
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