| In the year 2002, the state of Texas, didn’t | | | | my bible study), but as I pressed the pen down on |
| issue social security numbers, birth, or death | | | | the paper, no ink came out. I shook the pen, tried to |
| certificates to parents of stillborn babies. On October | | | | get the ink to come out, but nothing. |
| 25 2002, my third daughter was stillborn In TX. | | | | Frustrated with my pen, I shook it harder and tapped |
| The realization I wouldn’t be given any official | | | | it against my leg. Finally, I saw ink starting to flow |
| documents left me numb. I reasoned the rest of the | | | | through the end. As I placed the pen on paper, the |
| world considered my child’s life and death were | | | | ink flowing from the tip of the pen made a dark |
| insignificant. My nine long months of pregnancy, the | | | | impression on the page that looked like the number 2 |
| pain of labor, and delivery was all in vain and the | | | | with the letter K next to it. “How Strange” I |
| baby had no identity. | | | | thought. I put the lid back on the pen and placed it |
| About a month after her funeral, I found an internet | | | | back down on the table. As I picked up the bible, I |
| company that created “unofficial certificates of | | | | scanned through the contents page, trying to decide |
| life” for stillborn babies. I immediately gave them | | | | which book to read. |
| my baby’s information- her DOB, weight, time of | | | | I looked at the bible’s contents, then, glanced |
| birth, length, hospital name, and placed the order. | | | | back at the paper with the 2K on it. My mind made a |
| A week or so passed, and I received a package in | | | | strange connection. The connection was between |
| the mail with the company’s name imprinted on | | | | the 2K marking on the paper, and the bible book 2nd |
| the front. | | | | Kings. |
| I tore into the package and pulled out a | | | | “That was it!” I needed to read 2nd Kings. I |
| “Certificate of Life” with my baby’s | | | | began flipping through the pages and finally made it |
| information written in beautiful calligraphy. | | | | to 2nd Kings Chapter 1. As I began reading, I |
| At last, something to acknowledge her existence. | | | | discovered I had never read this book. |
| The certificate looked almost identical to my other | | | | When I made it to Chapter 4:8, I read these words: |
| two daughter’s birth certificates. At the time, I | | | | One day Elisha went to Shunem and a well-to-do |
| was a work- at- home mom with a lot of free time | | | | woman was there, who urged him to stay for a |
| on my hands (at least while my older girls were in | | | | meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to |
| school), so I decided to use my free time learning to | | | | eat. [9] She said to her husband, "I know that this |
| write in calligraphy (inspired by the beautiful | | | | man who often comes our way is a holy man of |
| handwriting on the certificate). | | | | God. [10] Let's make a small room on the roof and |
| Learning something new was therapeutic during this | | | | put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. |
| grieving period, but the pain of her loss was still fresh. | | | | Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us." |
| I had to rely solely on God to help during the weak | | | | 2KI 4:11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to |
| and lonely moments. | | | | his room and lay down there. [12] He said to his |
| I knew I had to pray, listen to the Holy Spirit and | | | | servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called |
| read my bible. I searched the scriptures night and day | | | | her, and she stood before him. [13] Elisha said to him, |
| for answers, and the Holy Spirit was finally able to | | | | "Tell her, `You have gone to all this trouble for us. |
| calm my spirit. He reminded me of God’s grace, | | | | Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on |
| and God’s grace was sufficient for me. | | | | your behalf to the king or the commander of the |
| Now that I was experiencing peace, I began asking | | | | army?' " She replied, "I have a home among my own |
| my husband what he thought about trying to have | | | | people." |
| another baby. He said he wasn’t sure. He | | | | 2KI 4:14 "What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. |
| wanted to try again, however he thought it was too | | | | Gehazi said, "Well, she has no son and her husband is |
| soon. (It had only been about 4 months). | | | | old." |
| He was afraid something terrible could happen again. | | | | 2KI 4:15 Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, |
| He also made the comment “I’m just too | | | | and she stood in the doorway. [16] "About this time |
| old to have anymore children”. | | | | next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your |
| True, he is older than I am, but I believe he only said | | | | arms." "No, my lord," she objected. "Don't mislead |
| this out of fear of the unknown. I disagreed about | | | | your servant, O man of God!" 2KI 4:17 But the |
| the age comment, but decided not to push the issue | | | | woman became pregnant, and the next year about |
| any further (because I knew he was still grieving | | | | that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha |
| too). I continued practicing my calligraphy, praying and | | | | had told her. |
| reading scriptures. | | | | After reading these words, I knew in my heart this |
| On March 7, 2003, five months after the funeral, I | | | | message was for me, and my situation. The Spirit |
| picked up my bible and prayed, asking the Lord to | | | | reminded me of the writings that appeared to Daniel |
| direct me to the scripture He would have me read. | | | | (see Daniel 5:5). |
| Leaving my bible open, I decided to wait and see if | | | | Why would God bless me with a son? I had already |
| the Holy Spirit would give me scripture guidance. | | | | given birth to three girls and my husband had a girl |
| While waiting for an answer, I noticed my calligraphy | | | | from a previous marriage. It would seem impossible |
| pen and paper sitting on the table in front of me. | | | | we would ever have a son, but I claimed these |
| I picked up the pen (thinking I might take notes on | | | | scriptures for myself and kept them in my heart. |