• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Prayer Wine Chocolate

a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

  • Home
  • Wine and Chocolate
  • Faith
  • CSMI
  • Adoption
  • Life
  • Prayer Journaling
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Yourself!: A Journal for Catholic Girls
  • Donate a Be Yourself Journal
  • Catholic Coloring Pages
  • Shop

Sep 19, 2016
Adoption· Catholic Influencers· Faith

Does God Have a Magic Wand?

 “Why did it rain today?”

raincar.jpeg

I heard this question come from the back seat as I was driving this afternoon. My four-year-old, Xavier, has a lot of questions lately.  I have to admit, I often don’t have the answers.  He asks me how things are made and who made (insert random synthetic object).  But this one,  this one I thought -I kinda know this one . . . so I attempted a response.

After a litany of follow-up “why” questions to each of my answers that tried to simplify how we need water to live, I finally answered – “because that’s the way God created the world”.

Xavier then asked,

“Why did God create the world?”

“Because He loves us”, I responded.

Then, instead of asking why God loves us, or any “why”question, he asked:

Does God have a magic wand?

A photo by Greg Rakozy. unsplash.com/photos/oMpAz-DN-9II was silent for almost a minute as I thought of his question.

Finally, I said, “I don’t know”.

I am pretty sure anyone who has taken a theology class might argue that I should have said no.  But, he’s four . . . and God is a mystery.

And in my life, God has done a lot of “magic”.

Recently I have been taken back with awe and gratitude with how God, who has given us free will, still seems to find a way to help us be in the right place at the right time.

If you are a parent, I am sure you vividly remember your child’s birth.  In most cases, you were there!

As an adoptive momma, my story is unique.  My son’s story is unique.  And honestly, how much I tell of it is a question to me.  Adopted children have a right to know their stories before others.  So, out of respect for my son, and his first parents, I will be leaving out many details.  However, I’d like to share a glimpse of our story with you.  Through my eyes at least, it shows how even though we have free will, we are also right where God wants us to be.

I, nor my husband, were present at our son’s birth.  Very few people knew we were “matched” (in the adoption world matched is the equivalent to “expecting”).  We had kept it a secret because in the 3 months before we had been “matched”three other times and those situations were just not meant to be.  Getting excited, telling people, then plans change, your heart hurts . . . and you have to tell people . . . That gets exhausting.  So this one- this one we kept a secret.

Our son’s first parents chose us and we met.  But anyone who has experienced adoption knows, the adoption placement decision does not come easily or lightly.  We were told what hospital our son’s biological mother had planned to deliver . . . and what hospital was the back up plan if they felt they needed to get to one quickly.

The night our son was born, he was not born in either of those mentioned hospitals.  We found out days later; and eventually were told that the biological parents changed their minds about adoption.

My husband and I wept.  This was the fourth time this had happened to us, but this was the first time we cried in each other’s arms about it.  We were confused.  We really thought this child was meant to be our child.  But adoption is unique, and this is part of the expectation on the journey.

Then, in an unexpected chain of events – we were called almost three weeks later.  Our son’s first parents changed their minds again, and wanted to know if we were still interested in adopting their baby.  The adoption agency told us the baby was “very sick” but because of privacy laws, they couldn’t tell us anything else.  We had to base our decision on faith.

I wanted to say yes without even talking to my husband. . . but I knew that’s not how it works.  My husband was scared.  He was afraid of “losing him again”.  He didn’t think his heart could handle it if the baby’s sickness was fatal.

Then, like a light bulb turning on above my head, I remembered that the one NICU nurse I know, works at the hospital this baby was born.  I had not really talked to her in over a decade, but through Facebook we had reconnected.  I sent her an inbox asking her if she could send me her phone number.  I gave her mine.

She called me and I said, I know the chances are slim . . . but . .. and I went on the explain our situation, and asked her if she had any idea what baby I was talking about.  It had been almost 3 weeks . . .

My friend paused, and then said, “I know exactly who you are talking about, I admitted him.”  She then went on about his health, but also about what a sweet baby boy he was and how we would make the greatest parents for him.  She couldn’t promise a clean bill of health, but her love for this baby compelled her to encourage us to love him too.

new-born-615751_1280.jpg

In the whole world I knew one NICU nurse . . . a friend from my childhood . . . and a former classmate of my husband’s.

We couldn’t be there to hold our son the night he was born . . . so God guided some guardian angels and made sure someone who knew us was there holding him.

That’s God’s Magic.

So, I guess the next time Xavier asks if God has a magic wand, I might just say no, but He does have a magic heart.  “Magic” because His heart loves in way we can not fully comprehend or understand.  “Magic” in the sense it causes us to stand back in awe.

Our son’s birthmother chose to go to a hospital that had not even been mentioned as a back up birth place.  The doctors she had been seeing through the agency – who had been taking her to appointments – were not affiliated with the hospital in which she gave birth.

Our old friend was working that night, and our son’s birth led him to need placement in the NICU. She was there to hold him and care for him when I wasn’t.  She was able to tell me about the night my son was born.

We have all the hospital documents from that night . . . but what a wonderful gift it is to have someone we know tell us how she cared for him on the date of his birth.

What a gift . . . God’s “magic”.

Share148
Tweet
Pin2
Share1
150 Shares
Previous Post: « How Keeping it “Old School” May Help Your High School Student Succeed
Next Post: Seven Ways Catholics Can Mix Faith and Fellowship »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trina says

    September 21, 2016 at 5:48 am

    What a beautiful story! It’s amazing just how small this world is.

Primary Sidebar

       

Amy is the Co-Founder of CatholicsOnline.net

10 Free resources

10 Free resources

10 free resources for subscribers!

10 free resources for subscribers!

GUIDE: How to Plan your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat

Be Yourself! Journal

Journal for tweens and teens

prayerwinechocolate

Pray, hope and don’t worry “ Saint Padre Pio # Pray, hope and don’t worry “ Saint Padre Pio
#Pray #hope #dontworry
Can you tell I’m wearing a “Catholic “ scarf Can you tell I’m wearing a “Catholic “ scarf? It’s from @studio_senn and it’s so perfect for Fall! Last year I tied it to my purse and that looked great too!

What makes me it “Catholic”?
The scarf has a pelican design. The pelican has been a Christian symbol for centuries.

The pelican was believed to pierce its own breast with its beak and feed its young of its blood. It became a symbol of Christ sacrificing himself for man – and because of this was frequently represented in Christian art.

What a beautiful reminder of Christ’s love and potential conversation piece!

This news of the Pelican was completely new to me when I was introduced to this scarf!
Did you ever hear about the Pelican being a Christian symbol?

Studio Senn sent me this scarf last year at my request. I wanted to include it in my Christmas gift guide. Did you see it there?
 
#theology #catholicfashion
Interested in attending this year’s Prayer Wine Interested in attending this year’s Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat?
If yes, sign go up for my newsletter! I am about to send an email today with details!!!
Let’s gather together to pray and rejuvenate our souls!

Photos taken by @nadiapittmanphoto 
#Catholic #catholicretreat
Matt and I watched Nefarious last night. And when Matt and I watched Nefarious last night.
And when it was over we sat in silence for a noticeable amount of time.

If you are unfamiliar with the movie, it’s a fictitious story but at least one Catholic exorcist has stated that is really does depict the intelligence of demons and the way a person can become possessed. 

The same exorcist said the other recently released movie, The Pope’s Exorcist, is NOT a good or true portrayal of demonic possession.

Friends, we need the Sacraments.
We need prayer.
We need to fast and we need to be aware of what our culture claims to be acceptable or harmless.
The battle is real.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…

#Catholic #Catholiccontent
Check out @catholicsonline for more info #Catholic Check out @catholicsonline for more info
#Catholics #Catholicinfluencers #catholicinstagram
We almost didn’t go. There were a score of reaso We almost didn’t go. There were a score of reasons that cited being responsible. I’m so glad we went.
#CSLewis #Catholic
Hi friends! For those of you that don’t know, my Hi friends! For those of you that don’t know, my name is Amy Brooks and I started the Prayer Wine Chocolate blog about 7 years ago!
I’m so happy to know that you also enjoy Prayer 🙏 Wine 🍷 and of course Chocolate 🍫!
I sent out a newsletter to subscribers today. In case you missed it, here’s a glimpse of what was in the newsletter:
1. Today’s my birthday 🥳 so I put all digital products in my shop on sale!!!!
One day only- don’t miss it!

2. I read Jim Wahlberg’s book The Big Hustle in one day! I mean, it might have been a slight hustle on my part when I asked OSV to send it to me (I had one poster hung up in my room as a teen- that poster was Donnie Wahlberg) and I’m a huge Mark Wahlberg fan (have you seen Father Stu yet?!???) but WOW. I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. Much of what he shared about his family- was very close to home. I also have to share that there is an incredible community that helps addicts that I heard about twice this week. Not only from Jim Wahlberg’s book, but also Father Donald Calloway’s testimony- it’s called Communita Cenacola. I highly recommend we all get to know more about this organization.
@jimbow36 @fr.donaldh.c 

3. I’m booking speaking events! I already have one booked for 2024! If you think I could inspire your community in some way, let’s chat! Just send me a message, I’m happy to talk 🙂

4. Anyone going to see Jen Fulwiler in Philly? Perhaps it could be a Prayer Wine Chocolate gathering?! Let me know!
@jenniferfulwiler 

Some photos taken by @nadiapittmanphoto 

#Catholic #Catholicsonline #catholicinfluencers
Currently in the Top 100 on Amazon’s Children’ Currently in the Top 100 on Amazon’s Children’s Inspirational Books category!!!
Let’s celebrate with a SALE!
If you want the Bible Study Guide I wrote that pairs perfectly with this book for only $10.00 comment SOLD and I’ll send you a message! 
(Regular price is $39.50!)
#Catholicyouth #catholicidentity
Take a deep breath. Now thank God for that! What w Take a deep breath. Now thank God for that!
What was the last thing you ate or drank and you thought, this is good?! Thank God for that!
Who was the last person you smiled at? Thank God for her or him!
#Catholic
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of th In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
#CatholicChristian
We have mixed feelings about the start of school 😂 
But on a serious note…
When I started to blog… when I first began “Prayer Wine Chocolate “, my husband and I had one adorable little boy and the dream of a bigger family.
Now look! This week our 3 children started another school year!
I thought I was going to share a checklist about how to adopt without an agency… and God showed me how much more important it is to share the gift of faith and the importance of prayer.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!
And I just love how His mother- Our Blessed Mother- revealed her presence and love along the journey too.
Being a Christian is not easy at times… but this life is only the beginning…
Here’s the checklist:
✔️ Keep praying and dreaming BIG
✔️ Keep asking others to pray for you (on earth and in heaven)
✔️ Believe and stay faithful- our faith is a gift. The Sacraments are a gift. The Rosary is a gift. Wine and chocolate- also gifts
✔️ God’s power and love are greater than we could ever imagine.
Let’s keep praying together!
Drop you ur intentions in the comments… and let us pray for one another!
#keeppraying #JesusisLord #ChristtheKing #MostSacredHeartofJesus #DivineMercy
Being a good Christian… a good Catholic Christia Being a good Christian… a good Catholic Christian, requires confidence in Christ! Let’s help build confident young women who are assured they are LOVED!
#beyourselfjournal #Catholicmom
Buy a copy of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Buy a copy of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Boys from me today and get the Boy’s Bible Study (digital download) for FREE!
How? Type SOLD below and I’ll send you a message!
Can’t wait to give away this awesome Bible Study to a few people today!!!
#Catholic #Catholicyouth
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of th In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Lord, make an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred; let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt,faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
For the majority of my teaching career, I began every class with this prayer.
I started doing this because I heard a story about how one high school for boys had a problem with a growing number of fights happening between students. As a way to battle this, the administrators started praying this Peace Prayer every day over the school’s intercom system.
The results were dramatic- no more fights.
Perhaps we should all pray this prayer more often…
#Catholic #Prayerjournal
Friends- and family- enter the G I V E A W A Y S ! Friends- and family- enter the G I V E A W A Y S ! 
One thing I have always loved doing is hosting one every year around Christmas! I love gathering Catholic gifts and sharing them with you! I love sending out a huge box of gifts to a winner each year!
This year - I entered and WON a contest hosted by the sweetest blogger @conservamome !!
We won these tickets and had the best time as a family at @hersheypark and @hersheyschocolateworld !
I was so sad to leave!!!
What a blessing it was to see our children enjoying the rides with us and with one another! The loved @zooamerica too!
It was such a great day! Oh - 😂- and one of the workers noticed my shirt on that new Reece’s ride/experience… and watched him read my Prayer Wine Chocolate shirt and react with a smile 😂 
Love it!
Milton Hershey and I actually share the same birthday.
Him and his wife probably struggled with infertility… they actually started a school and home for orphans that still is open today.
Anyway- enter the G I V E A W A Y S! They help small businesses- and you might actually WIN!
Thank you Elia and Hershey!!!
#chocolateworld #Catholicblogger
1. Plan a DAYTIME date! I don’t know about you, 1. Plan a DAYTIME date! I don’t know about you, but I get tired pretty early. See if you can use a personal day from work and visit a winery or go into a quaint town for lunch.
2. Get tickets to see a comedian! Matt and I have seen @brianregancomedian and @officialkathleenmadigan in the past… @keithalby is on our list - we hope to see his show LIVE one day too!
3. Go “leafing” I asked my husband for an idea- this was what he said 😂 
4. Fire pit and stargazing.
5. Movie night! I highly recommend Father Stu. I actually still want to see Nefarious but that’s probably not the best date night idea… leave your movie suggestions below!
#Catholicwife #Catholicmom
Just sitting here holding onto every last moment o Just sitting here holding onto every last moment of summer ☀️!
#SaintQuotes #catholicreels
Kristin @onehailmaryatatime - I took a page out of Kristin @onehailmaryatatime - I took a page out of your “parent playbook “! After  Eucharistic Adoration I asked these two 6 year olds:
“What did God say to you?”
George answered: “Pray more”
Jaina answered: “Stay still and look at the altar”
Then I took a dozen pictures of them because Jaina doesn’t stay still…
 I’m really noticing how God speaks simply and in short sentences this year… for all his children, even the 40 something’s!
What has God say d to you lately?
#praymore #BeStill #Catholic #Christian
Dear Holy Trinity, Thank you for all the smiles, l Dear Holy Trinity,
Thank you for all the smiles, laughs and safe trips this summer.
Amen.
#shortprayer #stayprayedup
Sacramental grace, like all of God’s Grace, is a Sacramental grace, like all of God’s Grace, is a gift! And  I need as much as I can get!
#Catholic #Catholicreels #Catholicmemes
Load More Follow on Instagram

Footer

       
a spiritual journey to motherhood & beyond

Copyright © 2023 · Cultivate Theme theme by Restored 316