2004-03-25 - Tiny Fingers

Ps 139:13-16 For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (NAS)

This week I received a picture of a tiny baby boy. It was both a joy and a wonder and at the same time a little scary. This little boy is perfectly formed with long straight fingers and everything where it should be. I'm sure his Mom and Dad are sure he is the cutest little guy in the world.

The scary part is that he would fit in my hand because he is about three months premature. He weighs less than two pounds. No one is sure why, but this little fellow had to be delivered or he would have been lost. He has little tufts of blanket piled around him and the tiniest diaper I can imagine wrapped around him. There are a several tubes and monitors of course. He and 19 other premature babies are watched closely by the ICU staff. When his Dad calls him his fingers start wiggling. I can only imagine how precious that must be to see.

In that picture that was graciously shared with me, looking past the tubes and monitors, I got to see a glimpse of that fearfully and wonderfully made phrase. His eyes are gently taped over because they are not ready to be used yet. But, while this tiny baby will be very fragile for some time, his eyes, ears, nose, fingers and toes are all developing according to the plan laid down in his DNA by the Lord. A few of us have the great privilege to witness some of these middle stages of knitting. How amazing it is to see him so perfectly formed even at this point.

Mom is doing alright, Dad is hanging in there and the little boy is well for as tiny and early as his has arrived. I'm sure that prayers would be appreciated for everyone involved. My mind races through the myriad possibilities and wonders if he might be a doctor like those working hard to save him, and if so what wonders he will see in the future. The potential from this tiny infant are endless. But right now getting too far ahead of ourselves would mean missing these rare images and the wonders that lay quietly in the picture in those tiny fingers.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org