The Little Pink Dress

Years ago when our son was a baby, I came across some sweet little vintage baby dresses. I went ahead and bought them because I had big plans that included a big family. As the years went by and I still couldn't get pregnant again, I slowly got rid of our baby things. It was heartbreaking. After 6 years I gave up everything we had except for a few sentimental items and this tiny pink dress. I packed them up and put in the top of a closet. I cried it all out on Christmas Eve and told God that although I didn't understand, I would love him and trust in him anyway. 

Now 7 years have gone by and I know I've shared with a lot of you already but God worked on my husband and I for  the past year. He showed me that even though "I" had these plans of a big family, God had something different planned. He showed me that I can't control everything in my life and if I surrender to him, he would take care of the rest. He brought a peace to my heart that I had not had for a very long time. He changed me and my husband; our hearts and the way we viewed having another baby. He led us to foster and now we have a beautiful baby girl. She is 18 months old and has a smile that lights up a room!

Last night, I was looking for something in that closet and came across those items. I pulled the dress out and almost started crying right then and there. It was a perfect fit for our baby girl! Even back then, all those years ago, God knew who that little pink dress would be for. He was just working on me. He was what my good friend Leatha always says, "stretching" me to become the woman he made me to be. He was building me to become a woman who would be strong enough to love a baby that I might not be able to keep forever.  Even when I couldn't understand, God knew the desires of my heart. 

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139

This Sunday, our sweet girl will wear this little pink dress and I will celebrate all that God has done for us! If you are hurting right now because things aren't happening the way you want them to, please know that I am praying for you. Have faith and continue to believe God has a plan. I promise he really does. I know this may seem like a silly little dress to you, but it stood as a reminder to me of Christ's love and desire to bless his children. 

Love, E