"For this child I have prayed."
It's cute, it's catchy, it's a Bible quotation, what could be better? This little verse is very popular amongst the Christian adoption/infertility community, at least as judged by Pinterest. I certainly understand the sentiment, having sojourned in that valley myself, but I think they need to finish the statement. It's a little like the Noah's ark themed nursery decor or putting 'Goodnight Sweet Prince' on your nursery wall: good intentioned cuteness but when taken in the original context, probably not a great choice for the nursery. Sure, we all love the cutesy animals but that's not the point of Noah's story, rather we so often overlook the cataclysmic judgement on widespread wickedness that had so corrupted the world that only 8 people could be found upon the whole face of the earth who still kept the faith. And in our SIDS obsessed culture, I'm not sure putting the last words spoken to the dying Hamlet on your little prince's wall would be a great idea. And then there's the much celebrated Jane Austen ten pound note being released in the UK, except the quote on the pleasure of reading, though nice, is spoken by a jealous Caroline Bingley, who has absolutely no interest in reading except as a tool that might win a little of Mr. Darcy's attention, perhaps Miss Austen might find it amusingly ironic but it is rather disappointing to her numerous fans who otherwise might be rather excited about this honor for their favorite authoress.
So what is the mysterious context of this particular snippet? We must go all the way back to the story of Hannah in the Old Testament, before David and the Kings, back at the tail end of the period of the Judges in Israel. Hannah is barren and miserable, though her husband is supportive and accepting of their infertility, he just doesn't get her misery. One day she is sitting outside the temple praying in such anguish of heart that she is actually chastised for public drunkenness. But her prayers are heard and eventually she has several children, the first becomes a great Prophet called Samuel. Here is the whole quotation:
So what is the mysterious context of this particular snippet? We must go all the way back to the story of Hannah in the Old Testament, before David and the Kings, back at the tail end of the period of the Judges in Israel. Hannah is barren and miserable, though her husband is supportive and accepting of their infertility, he just doesn't get her misery. One day she is sitting outside the temple praying in such anguish of heart that she is actually chastised for public drunkenness. But her prayers are heard and eventually she has several children, the first becomes a great Prophet called Samuel. Here is the whole quotation:
"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." I Samuel 1:27-28.
This faithful little mother, so desperate for a child, then gives the miraculous answer to her most desperate prayer back to God. How many that quote the first have the heart to do the whole? But then is it not the duty of every parent to do just that? For every child is a gift of God, no matter how easy or difficult was the conception or adoption. They are not ours to keep, but rather a trust to guard and shepherd into the purposes and plans destined for them ere the stars were lit. So be bold, parents, pray for a child, but be certain to raise them in context.
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