By: Renee Ellinger
Sitting at the bedside of your newborn watching them breathe, listening to monitors hum and beep and babies crying from down the hall, waiting for the next diaper change for the chance to simply touch your child.
Taking the back seat view as you watch others prepare the milk and feed your baby, pumping tirelessly every few hours because it’s something you can contribute.
Sleepless nights of prayer hoping that all will still be well when morning comes.
Lying awake at night with racing thoughts that need to be put at ease, a quick phone call to the nurse for a report that finally gives way to slumber.
Hopeful anticipation of the day you will finally be able to hold your baby in your arms,
fear of that exact same moment because their tiny bodies appear so fragile.
Prayers being answered and miracles that stretch our faith, days of pain and elation we never thought we would see.
A newfound understanding of ‘Faith as small as a mustard seed’, seeing the mountain move through that faith.
Watching Him breathe life into a hopeless situation.
Peace in the storm and a gentle whisper of assurance.
Telling others about Yahweh because we’ve seen Him through the NICU.
Being a NICU mama is having the faith of things hoped for but not yet seen.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Renee Ellinger is a wife, a mother, and a registered nurse. She works in the emergency department when she is not a home caring for her 4 wonderful children, 2 of whom were NICU babies. Renee also volunteers on the Praying Through ministries NICU prayer team.
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