“Lord, it is good to give thanks to you!”
Along with the psalmist, I ring out my thanks to you, O Lord! Today, on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, twelve years ago you answered my plea to become a mother. It had been a long journey—a journey filled with years of tests and surgeries, shots and blood draws, tears and frustrations, but always hope.
You placed it upon my husband’s heart to promise St. Anthony a child named after him if we were to conceive. I asked my husband how long this promise would be effective: a month? a year? a lifetime?
As it turned out, St. Anthony was a fast worker. Less than two weeks after the promise was made, O Lord, you granted us the desire of our hearts: to become parents. St. Anthony gave us a clear sign of his intercession—my cycle that would nurture this new life started on St. Anthony’s feast day.
It is good to give thanks to you, Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night (Ps 92).
There is no miracle too great for you, Lord. After almost seven years of marriage, you made me fruitful like the palm tree; you lifted high the lowly tree and made the withered tree bloom.
All glory and thanks, O Lord, for your generous gifts to us! Twelve years ago, the idea of one child, let alone three, seemed inconceivable. And, yet, here we are with three beautiful children like strong cedars, vigorous and sturdy.
And, on St. Anthony’s feast day, we especially give praise and thanks to you, O Lord, for our oldest, Anthony Immanuel (God with us), whose name is a promise kept to our intercessor in the communion of saints and a reminder of your continued presence among us.
Truly, Lord, it is good to give thanks to you!
Love this, Emily. I remember how poignant it was for me when toddler G picked up a prayer card that had slipped out of a book. It was the prayer card to Mary for the conception of a child I had prayed many times. How blessed we are with our three!
I’m standing here crying—thank you, Emily, and thank you, Jesus!
Beautiful story indeed! My daughter and her husband, like good faithful Catholics, were always open to life. How sad it was when she could not conceive right away. After surgery, tests and many blood draws they were blessed with a son. They had to go through the same thing to conceive their second son. God is blessing them with a third child in a few months. As you said, the journey is long and frustrating. We thank God for your gratefulness and hope and we are happy for you, my daughter and others that cling to Him in hope. God bless!