– God Held Me From Start To Finish –
Picture a time in your life that stands out. One you can perfectly picture after ten, twenty, or even thirty years.
It’s been 31 years now since that certain day I shared in my last posting. That day I can still picture perfectly. That day that changed my life, and turned my ‘Me, Myself, and I ’ into a ‘Me, My Daughter, Together ’. (last writing) That day that I turned into a 19 year-old mother, opening my eyes a bit more to just how much God held me from start to finish.
I had learned what feeling like dirt really meant the night my dream of ‘waiting for my wedding night’ evaporated. But thankfully I learned what something else meant; forgiveness. God showed me through that entire pregnancy that I was forgiven. But that’s not all. He knew I needed to know He was going to continue carrying me. The support I got, (1* – 2*) the doctor I had, (3*) it being an easy pregnancy, (5*) the okay to enjoy Hoagy sandwiches, (6*) and of course the very short labor I endured are just a few of the ways, I like to say, He proved His Fatherly love to His nineteen year old daughter.
I don’t want anyone to think I was tearless at all. Nope. There were many tears the entire pregnancy, but God kept lifting me up. When I was holding that baby, it felt like God was holding me, letting me know I was His child, having me feel the promise He’d never let me go. He helped keep me going with a little more pease that day I saw my daughter than I expected, even after that peaceful feeling inside grew as each month of my pregnancy went by. This song words it perfectly.
Now being 32 years older, a wife, mother of four, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, a gramma, plus more, life is quite a bit different than it was back then. I see, however, how that entire nine month of being pregnant gave me a bit more strength as years followed. I have gone through more situations and circumstances I would have loved to have just driven around and not through. But no. God saw fit to have me drive smack into a few more trials on that road He knew was best for me to go on. I am, however, convinced God used my unplanned pregnancy to show me He’s there, and that He cares for whatever would take place.
I’d like to encourage you all, that, even if you do not feel it 24/7, God is right there 25/8 no matter what situation you are in. He will, if you put Him first, eventually raise you up so you can feel like you can stand on a mountain, or walk on that stormy sea.
On His own shoulders He will make you strong and make you more than you think you can be.
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. (Psalms 145:8)
If you want to read the entire story, grab it in book or kindle form through Amazon – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more on her blogs, mariannesmemoirs.com.
Can you think of any time He’s done that for you? Try. Try to think of some larger than normal ordeal you were waiting for. Or, maybe it was something you had no idea was going to take place. Can you then think of something that may have happened shortly before that occurred, where God was just letting you know He wanted you to enjoy your surroundings a bit more than normal being, perhaps, something difficult was soon to follow. Could He have done that to remind you He is your Father who just wanted to pass onto you that little Fatherly love reminder? There are a few other times throughout my story God showed that to me, proving again and again He cared. He cares for you, too. 
