Our grandson Charlie and his wife Faith were expecting their first baby this month. Naturally, my wife and I were excited about becoming great-grandparents for the first time. (I remember when great grandparents used to be really old!) However, what the Russell family anticipated being an exciting experience became a very tense and emotional time. Since one of my character flaws is to worry, I really struggled.
WORRY # 1 – The baby may have potential problems
A few days before the arrival date, we learned the baby could have health issues. Faith’s doctor cautioned that blood flow to her tiny unborn body was insufficient, which may explain why the baby was smaller than normal. As a result, he determined it was best to induce labor this past Wednesday morning.
WORRY # 2 – The father-to-be contracted Covid
A week before the anticipated birth of his daughter, my grandson Charlie contracted Covid and became very sick. Last Thursday, my wife and I drove from Louisville, Kentucky, to his home in Nashville, Tennessee, to be close if Faith went into labor in the middle of the night and needed someone to drive her to the hospital. We delivered food, ran errands, and did some yard work. When Faith’s mother became available, we realized there was not much we could do but add to their stress, so we returned home.
WORRY # 3 – The father-to-be had to be hospitalized
Charlie’s condition worsened, and he eventually wound up in the Intensive Care Unit of a Nashville hospital with pneumonia. “Covid Lung” was the ominous diagnosis. Charlie was severely dehydrated, had low oxygen levels, and struggled to breathe. In addition, a liver infection prevented doctors from administering some of the needed medicines, and he was dependent on oxygen most of the time. Understandably, Charlie was distraught about not being present at the birth of his first child and anxious about being isolated from family and friends. Plus, in the final days of her pregnancy, Faith now had additional anxiety concerning her husband’s health and survival.
WORRY # 4 – The grandparents contracted Covid also
In the meantime, my son Rusty and his wife Kellie, who had been excited about becoming grandparents, were having their own issues hundreds of miles away in Port Charlotte, Florida. Kellie contracted Covid, and since she struggles with Asthma, the virus really knocked her for a loop. She was deeply disappointed that she could not be present at the birth of her first grandchild, nor could she be nearby her hospitalized son. Nor was she much help to her sixteen-year-old son, Johnny, who contracted the virus as well.
WORRY # 5 – An absent preacher
My son Rusty wisely determined that he should not preach nor attend his church services on Sunday due to the danger of spreading Covid as a close contact. So not only would he miss the birth of his grandchild, but he was also concerned about missing another week of preaching since he just returned from a month-long sabbatical. Unfortunately, Rusty has also contracted Covid. Thankfully his symptoms have been milder than other family members, so he’s been able to continue to serve as a caregiver to his wife and son.
My wife Judy is a prayer warrior. She not only prays with heart and intensity, but she also enlists others to pray. We are extremely grateful for the many friends who joined us in petitioning God on behalf of our family during this tense situation. We realize others have much more significant issues, but this has been a very uncertain time for us, so we really appreciated those who asked the Lord to provide comfort and healing.
On Wednesday, I was scheduled to leave for an annual golf trip to northern Minnesota with friends. Should I go or stay home? Judy had planned for a pastor’s wife from Illinois to visit with her for three days while I was gone. So, we concluded there was nothing gained by me sitting around the house worrying. Plus, I got the impression Judy would rather I vacate the premises instead of fretting around the house and getting in her way. So, I chose to join my friends on the golf trip. (Big sacrifice!) When I first arrived at the airport, one of my friends gathered several of us together and prayed for my family. The Bible says we are to bear one another’s burdens, and it’s genuinely comforting to know people care.
That morning our daughter-in-law, Faith, checked into the same Nashville hospital where Charlie was being treated in ICU. Labor was induced, and Faith’s mother was able to be with her throughout the delivery. In addition, the nurses in ICU allowed Charlie to watch the baby being born through FaceTime.
Faith’s mother kept numerous family members connected through an ongoing text group. In the Minneapolis airport, I learned Faith was in intense labor. When my plane landed thirty minutes later in Duluth, I looked at my phone and saw that nearly all the family members had been anxiously chatting in the text group.
Here are some of the final comments of the thread:
“Charlie is connected to the delivery room by FaceTime.”
“They’re together!”
“Oh my goodness, I’m crying.”
“No epidural…going natural.”
“She’s 10 cm! Calling the doctor!!”
“What a story Charity will have to tell one day!”
“She’s about to start pushing.”
“Faith, you got this! You go, girl!”
While waiting at the baggage claim, I prayed and paced the floor, anxiously waiting for updates. I was churning inside! Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, my phone alerted, and the text that came on my screen was simply this eight-second video:
I used to cringe a little if a baby cried during one of my sermons, but I cannot describe how sweet it was, at that moment, to hear the sound of my great-granddaughter’s cries. I cried too and thanked God for answered prayer.
The screen on my phone exploded with excited messages. Grandpa Rusty’s response was first, “Praise God.” Others followed: “Glory!” “Answered prayer.” “Praise the Lord!” CONGRATULATIONS!
My golfing buddies patted me on the back and called me “Great Grandpa” for the first time.
Now four days later, the baby girl, Charity Rose, is 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and appears completely healthy. She and Faith are at Faith’s mother’s home resting and recovering. Unfortunately, Charlie is still in Intensive Care but making steady progress. So, we covet your continued prayer on his behalf. I am thankful once again God has blessed us with the miracle of birth and a united family. Thanks again to our wonderful Christian friends who supported us throughout our ordeal.
“Lord, I know you said, ‘Do not be anxious about anything,’ but I confess I’ve often disobeyed that command in my 77 years. Thank you that the blood of Christ forgives my every sin. Help me to trust you to handle those situations over which I have no control. And help my feeble mind to remember that Jesus promised: ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33).
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