Three Mothers ... Only One Mommy

They each have a different mother, but all of them have the same Mommy. Since they were adopted at ages two and three, Lily Grace and Lia Faith each have their own birth mothers, separate from Austin's. But the one thing they all have in common is one Mommy. Her name is Connie Jo and she is mommy to Austin and the two China dolls who now dominate the landscape of our happy and humble home. Austin and his two sisters are most certainly blessed to have such a mommy. A mommy who is pouring herself into her kids, investing in their lives, and expecting nothing in return. Today we say Happy Mother's Day, mommy. We love you.





Fifteen years ago, Connie Jo celebrated her very first Mother's Day, with family and friends, adoring a six month old, smiling baby boy named Matthew Austin Green. We had decided to call him Austin. Her choice, but I kind of liked it, manly sounding name I thought.





Her two best friends from high school had both had children at the same time - literally. One was even still in the hospital with her new son when we showed up to welcome Austin into this world. You can imagine the surprise on the doctor's face when she showed up to deliver the baby, only to find two ladies in PJs! Alas, though, Dr. Kakani figure out who was delivering on this day and made quick work of bring Austin into our lives at 3:28 am on November 15th, 1993. I still remember telling my mom that he was 7 inches long and weighed 19 lbs, news she received, I'm sure, at quite some shock. Of course, I had the numbers backward. We had a normal little boy, not a bowling ball! Over the years, God blessed us with many happy times as Austin grew into the young man he is today.



Many Mother's Days came and went, but mommy stayed the same. Always loving, always caring, always making sure her Austin knew he was loved and cared for like no other. We never had other children, for reasons that would become obvious later in life, and so mommy poured out her life into her little man. I am a firm believer that if you shower your children with love and teach them about the Love of the Father, they will turn out fine. And Austin has. We are so very proud of the young man he has become.



Four and a half years ago in Juijang City, a young mother gave birth to a baby girl. A girl that, for reasons known only to her and to God, she could not keep. And so she placed her at the gate of the orphanage on the day she was born. Sadly, while the birth of this little girl certainly qualified her as a mother, this Chinese mother would never know the joy of being a mommy to her little girl.



She would never hold her as she cried out for the emotional nourishment so important in the early years of a child's life. She would never see her take her first steps or offer her first words for an unsuspecting world. She would never see her grow to become a little girl, then a young lady, and someday perhaps a mother herself. Oftentimes, I wonder if this Chinese mother is broken over the loss of this baby girl from her life or if her life is so difficult that she finds it a heartbreaking experience to even try to remember.



I am certainly guilty of not praying as often as I should for this Chinese mother, so today, I offer this prayer for her, in hopes that she is still able to benefit from its request. "Father, I beg of You to bring joy into this unknown mother's life. I pray You will make her days easy and that she enjoys the full abundance of Your love, even if she doesn't know that it is You. I pray that You comfort her, as it must weigh heavy on her heart that she wasn't able to keep her little girl. And I pray that she knows that her little girl is loved and cared for and that her 'mommy' is pouring her life into to her, just as she is doing for a son of her own born 11 years earlier. Father, most of all, I pray that, if this Chinese mother is unacquainted with Your love and the offer of salvation that Your son gave to all of us, that today will be the day that this becomes known to her. I pray that she is given the opportunity and accepts the gift of Your salvation this very Mother's Day. So that one day, she may see her little girl again and be filled with joy through a Heavenly reunion. And Father, I thank You for the privilege of witnessing mothers and mommies given in love to do Your will. Amen."



A little over three years ago in Datong, another little girl was born to her Chinese mother. Though she had every desire and intention to keep this little girl, she soon discovered that she could not. She was born with a physical anomaly that may have lead to her mother's decision to give her up, hoping that someone else could provide medical care that would be necessary. The condition, likely present at birth, did not seem to be getting any better. And medical care was a luxury not available to her, as she worried about her little girl. So after four months of wishing and hoping, she finally decided to leave her little girl at the hospital so she could be treated, while she, herself, returned to her own life. And so there she left her, maybe even watching to make sure that someone took her little girl inside before something happened to her at that busy intersection. Probably very sad at losing her little girl, but relieved that the little girl would have the chance to receive the care she, herself, could not provide. How difficult it must have been to watch, as the policemen came and took the little girl inside, never again to be seen by her Chinese mother.





We don't know what name she was given by her Chinese mother, and I guess we never will. But we know that the name given her by the authorities in China means "To Praise Glory and High Honor." How fitting for our little Easter miracle baby girl. And for her Chinese mother, we also offer a Mother's Day prayer. "Father, please, on this special day, we ask that You show favor on our little girl's Chinese mother. That she would be comforted in the knowledge that, while it was difficult for her, the decision to leave her daughter at the hospital was according to Your plan. That others may see her and know that You are still in the miracle business. That she is healed and growing more and more each day comforted by the knowledge that she is with her forever family. And that she now has a 'mommy' that will pour out her life into her. We pray that somehow, today she knows that her little girl, given up at four months, has been healed by Your mighty power and that Your grace and mercy will follow her all her days. We pray also that she hears of Your love and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. And that she gives herself for Your glory, claiming the victory that is Yours and giving her also the opportunity to see her little girl once again in Your presence. We ask these things of a most gracious and giving Father. Amen."








Today at church, we played something of a secular song called "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle," which has the line "There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas, Creation's most unique and precious pearl." So, with all due respect to the mothers and mommies of the world, we nominate our own for the Hall of Fame! Happy Mother's Day!!!!



Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five