{"id":209603,"date":"2019-09-01T15:13:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-01T20:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=209603"},"modified":"2019-09-01T18:10:31","modified_gmt":"2019-09-01T23:10:31","slug":"learned-baby-down-syndrome-betrayed-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/learned-baby-down-syndrome-betrayed-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"When I learned my baby had Down syndrome, I felt betrayed by God. I was so wrong."},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Two months ago, I Iistened intently to an interview discussing the ethics of eugenic abortion. I was initially saddened when the television anchor questioned why one would want a family to have to have a child with a severe disability.\u00a0<\/span>However, I was immediately reminded of my own anger and ignorance when my husband and I learned we were going to have a child with Down syndrome.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of my dreams-come-true is being a wife and mama. It\u2019s been the best part of my life, pouring my heart into our family.\u00a0<\/span>We always prayed for our children that they would be perfect and healthy, and though it pains me to say, I begged God every day, \u201cPlease don\u2019t let me have a child with special needs; please don\u2019t let me have a child with Down syndrome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I wanted and thought I deserved my version of a perfect, problem-free life.\u00a0<\/span>So when we learned during my fifth month of pregnancy that Belinda was a child with Down syndrome, I felt betrayed by God and so afraid!\u00a0<\/span>\u201cLord, I asked you for a healthy baby, and You didn\u2019t obey me.\u201d (Isn\u2019t that what we think sometimes when we don\u2019t get what we want?)<\/span><\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Two sets of twin boys with Down syndrome show the world it\u2019s nothing to fear<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But because of His great grace, patience, and mercy, I can imagine the Lord was saying, \u201cVerity, I\u2019m going to change your heart. I choose you to be her mama, and I choose this family to love her. I\u2019ll be with you and will show you how she is part of My greater plan.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>I believed that my Sovereign Lord worked all things together for good, but my faith was weak. I just didn\u2019t get it yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The doctor gave us the option to abort. We didn\u2019t, of course; but I was so emotionally distraught that, for a moment, even though it went against everything I believed as a Christian, my fear took over\u2014\u201cLife would be so much easier… you don\u2019t really know what you\u2019re in for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Down

Belinda as a baby in the NICU<\/p><\/div>\n

Truly, we didn\u2019t know. Yes, scary and difficult days would come, but we never could have dreamed what joys God had planned for us with our Belinda.\u00a0<\/span>Thankfully, we did not forfeit those blessings.\u00a0Our daughter Belinda is a beautiful picture of a \u201clife worthy of life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Belinda is a gift to us\u2014a beautiful, perfect life\u2014exactly who God wants her to be. She is sunshine wherever she goes!\u00a0She\u2019s had such a happy life. She loves to dance, swim, and run. She was a page at a national convention. She\u2019s attended proms, loves music, and even plays the piano.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of the gift of Belinda, <\/span>we<\/b> have grown in so many ways.\u00a0 Her siblings, who love her so much and have played a large part in her upbringing, have very compassionate hearts for people.<\/span><\/p>\n

A woman facing a decision about whether or not to abort her child may have heard, as I did, the voices of the \u201ccruelly compassionate\u201d calling to her, saying:<\/span><\/p>\n