Sometimes I look back on my pre-Quincy self and I want to punch her in the face. Today the baby who changed everything is 8.
For that reason, I like to revisit Quincy’s story on his birthday sometimes.
So from the archives:
“We prayed like so many others, “God, we don’t care about anything else, we just want a healthy baby.” We anticipated with joy the arrival of our 4th child, assuming it would be much like the others. We had no idea how different it would be. Seven years ago today, we welcomed Quincy Jay into our family. And we got a taste of what it is it like when God seems to answer the “healthy baby” prayer with a resounding “NO.”
…. From the moment Quincy was born, depravity knocked him down. We like to protect our babies from that for a time. But with Quincy, we simply could not.
I only got a glimpse of this in comparison to so many others, but I believe it is among the most intense heartache one can experience in this life–to sit helplessly while your child suffers. I remember sitting next to Quincy’s bed having to deny all of me–everything that is natural to a mother. I could not hold him. I could not comfort him. I could not protect him. Torture.
…. Quincy is a daily reminder of the goodness of God in “unanswered” prayers.
Perhaps God’s “No” is actually a “Yes.” Yes to a love so intense and simply unexplainable. Yes to the experience of God’s faithfulness even in the midst of deep pain. Yes to unimaginable joy. Yes to fertile soil for developing Christlikeness in Mom, Dad, brothers, and child. Yes to a journey that although we didn’t ask for we would gladly travel again. Yes to blessings– not a “healthy” baby blessing, but blessings of another kind. One I did not know to pray for. But how grateful I am to receive. And Yes to heartache. Yes to tears. Yes to glimpses of the redemption of depravity. Yes to a new perspective and a new longing for our eternal home.”
He’s eight today.
He’s “beast” (he taught us that).
Quincy boy,
We love you. We are so proud of you.
Happy Birthday, precious boy. Thank you in so many, many ways.
Happy 8th birthday, Quincy! You are such a blessing, and I know you will continue to inspire others and triumph over adversity. You are a really special guy, with lots of talents and abilities for which God has a great plan. And, your birth changed my life, too, as I found out about you shortly after you were born at a prayer group meeting. I’ve loved being able to prayer for you and your family and watching the physical and spiritual growth. And, I have especially loved being able to be a small part of the Adventure Project, and being able to encourage your Mom – she is pretty special, too.