A Story of Faith, Waiting, and St. Patrick

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I’m very happy it fell on a Sunday this year.

I’m sure a lot of people are bummed because they wanted to go to a bar, have some Irish beer, and drink the night away.

I know that a lot of people might still engage in those activities, but if they do they are really missing the point.

St. Patrick’s Day is not about gold, beer, rainbows or luck. St. Patrick’s Day is actually a Christian holiday. Surprised?

St. Patrick was actually a Christian missionary in Ireland who converted thousands of people to Christianity with his evangelizing message. Legend states that he used the three-leaf clover to illustrate the concept of the Trinity- God as one being and three entities which are God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit.

St. Patrick is said to have died on March 17 and this is why we observe St. Patrick’s Day on today.

Just as Santa hijacked Christmas and the Easter was taken over by a Bunny, Leprechauns and pots of gold overtook the true meaning of St. Patty’s Day.

Today is a celebration of Northern Ireland being brought the gospel by way of St. Patrick.

So since today is Sunday, which we observe as a day of worship and also St. Patrick’s Day, I though I would share with you a story of faith and waiting that might make you smile.

It’s not a story of luck, but blessings- I hope you will enjoy.

Story Time

Several years ago, my sister had been married for about two and a half years and she and my brother-in-law wanted to start a family.

They had been trying for several months with absolutely no success and when my sister went to a doctor to inquire about the hold up, she learned there was a medical problem.

The problem could possibly  be repaired with medicine, but internally she felt as though being a mother would only be a distant dream.

It was summer and my sister was completely miserable, especially since she had to endure watching the pregnancy of a close friend.

I was twenty at the time and nearing the end of college. A baby was the last thing on my young mind, but because my sister and I are very close her pain became mine. I was willing to do whatever I possibly could to help my sister conceive the child she deserved.

I did all the internet research I could and totally immersed myself into the TTC (trying to conceive) community. I read tip after tip, article after article and because I had just finished a Human Sexuality and Psychology course in school, I had some limited knowledge about the process.

I learned that the best way to plan for a baby was by regularly checking for ovulation by either testing for basal temperature, using ovulation tests that are similar to the concept of a home pregnancy test, or writing down each day of the female cycle in a special notebook.

One Saturday, my sister and I were aimlessly browsing a department store together as we often did on the weekend. I remembered her baby woes because she was so down that day. I decided to look for a few things to lift her spirits and help her out on the difficult TTC journey.

I picked up a little pink journal so she could track all the TTC stuff, I brought some ovulation tests, and on the way out of the store I found the CUTEST most appropriate baby onesie that read, “I’m a good look charm.”

I bagged it all in a pink gift bag with white tissue paper and presented it to her in the car because I couldn’t wait.

She cried. The shirt especially got her, and guess what? Within maybe a month she found out she was pregnant!

She remembered the onesie and put it on my niece as a baby as soon as it fit. She texted the picture to me and we laughed at our inside joke. But that isn’t all.

Eight years later, from the clear blue sky, came my nephew! Born eleven days after my birthday, He will be exactly three-months-old on today- St. Patrick’s Day! Isn’t that lucky?

Moral of the Story

My sister was down for months, fearful that she wouldn’t ever be able to welcome a child from her womb into the world.

As a young girl, my sister’s greatest dream was to have a family of her own and that dream seemed to be shattered when the process of conception did not happen in her own timing.

However, no sooner than she cried out to the Lord there was a little life growing inside of her. Then years later there was one more.

These children are not only the joy of my sister and brother-in-love, but the joy of our family. It’s so much fun reliving childhood through their big brown eyes that are so much like my sister’s!

My niece is smart and sassy, but sugary sweet at the same time. She’s funny, talented at nearly everything, and at almost nine, is about to exceed my make-up skills.

My nephew LOVES music, like all of us, and at only three-months-old, he has more personality than he needs. Play Baby Shark and watch him “cut a rug”.

The other day my sister sent me a collage- a picture of my niece as a baby in the “lucky” oneize and a picture of my nephew wearing the same shirt eight years later. Within seconds this entire blog post came to my mind and I wanted to totally give my praise to God.

My sister’s story is a sermon that deserves to be shared.

So often as humans we want things from God and we want them now! When God doesn’t work immediately, we lose faith in the process of waiting.

We feel that if God doesn’t give us something in “our time” he won’t give it to us at all.

We beg, we cry, we become angry with God, but we often forget  this verse from Jeremiah 29:11 which states,

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Lord will never leave or forsake us. The plans He has for us are good, but sometimes they require a bit of waiting.

God as our creator knows just what we need, just when we need it.

My niece and nephew are prefect for our family. They add just the bit of sugar, spice, snails, and puppy dog tails that we need, but we had to wait.

If my sister had not waited and not cried out to the Lord when she did, her faith would not have been tested and strengthened and I wouldn’t have bought that cute onesie or had this cute story to share with you today.

Friend, as you are reading this, I do not know what you are going through, or what you are crying out to the Lord for, but know that God hasn’t forgotten about you.

God loves you and has a plan that is perfect for you in mind. He is orchestrating a plan for you that will give you hope and a future. Don’t be discouraged when things don’t work out in your own time.

Understand that things will fall into place at His timing and God’s timing is immaculate. Even if the outcome is not something you desire, understand this scripture from Romans 8:28,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Everything will happen for your good simply because God loves you dearly.

As your father and creator, God wants to give you his best but sometimes we must wait and have patience. I leave you with this scripture that I hope blesses you whole-heartedly.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, On the Lord.” (Psalms 27:14)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Blessings to you all !