THE MIRACULOUS PLIGHT OF BABY AVERY

On June 13, 2015, what must have seemed like a tragedy to Megan and Brandon Stitt, turned out to be a blessed miracle of life, Avery Stitt was born at just 24 weeks of pregnancy.  

A premie baby fights for life

Baby Avery came into the world at 1 pound 11 ounces and began a brave struggle for life.  

Most poignant is the fact, while Planned Parenthood was being exposed for selling baby parts, Baby Avery was defying the odds and providing a living example of why life inside the womb is precious.   At 24 weeks, a baby has about 16 more weeks of growing and maturing inside the womb.  At 22 weeks, the hospital where Avery was born would not have attempted to save his life and would have considered him a miscarriage.  Avery's mother entered the hospital at 22 weeks and 5 days, God kept Avery in the womb for over a week so he would have a fighting chance.  When Megan went into preterm labor, God was in control and revealed  He had a plan from the beginning.                                                                                       

With health issues common to preterm babies, Avery endured surgeries, feeding tubes, IVs, intubation, infections and jaundice, aided by the prayers of numerous family, friends, and strangers and the faith of his mother and father.                                                   

I became aware of Baby Avery through my wife who, months ago, began soliciting prayer for him.  Through Facebook, my wife kept up to date with Avery's progress and shared with our family, our Wednesday night prayer group, and anyone else who would listen.  As I became more aware of the Planned Parenthood scandal, the brave fight of Baby Avery became, for me, a beautiful contrast of life overcoming death.  As I looked through the Facebook posts chronicling Avery's progress, I was most impressed with the unwavering faith of Megan and Brandon.  Constant requests for prayer, constant praise to God for His sustaining Avery through every victory and every setback, and Brandon reading the Bible to his new son, setting a pattern for of godly parenting from the outset.          .

Also, touching was the response from those who commented on each post, praying and praising along with the family and relating how many prayer groups were praying together for this blessed child.  The church coming together as it should, strangers uniting in prayer for a precious life and two faithful parents.                         

Baby Avery, and other preterm babies like him, should be the national story.  Avery should be a cause celebre whose brave struggle would speak to the sanctity of life.  My purpose in writing this is that this story would become known, that more people could pray and that there might be opportunity to bless the Stitt family.  A tiny child whose life is a testimony of God's love and power and a testimony of the importance of protecting every life.  

Baby Avery has overcome enormous odds, even as he continues to approach what would have been his scheduled date of birth, yet, he continues to rely on the prayers of God's people.  Please pray for Avery and his family.  One must wonder what God has in store for this little guy, as he has been bathed in prayer since the day of his birth. 

Our nation has been divided on the subject of life in the womb.  Stories like  Baby Avery's remind us that what some would call a fetal tissue mass is really a viable life created by the loving hands of God.  Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you... 

Psalm 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;                                                                         Our nation needs prayer as the debate over abortion and the sanctity of the life of the unborn rages on.  Our nation is guilty of bloodshed.  The prophet  Ezekiel warned Israel of their impending judgment, due to the innocent blood that was shed:                                                     Ezekiel 22:3-6&12 You shall say, Thus says the Lord God: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself!  You have become guilty by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought your days near, the appointed time of[a] your years has come. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries. Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; your name is defiled; you are full of tumult.“Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit[b] and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.

America may find itself on the wrong end of this prophecy if we do not get our spiritual house in order.                                                  

I pray that Baby Avery's story has inspired you and given you hope and causes you to seek God's guidance concerning your role as a believer concerning these issues.  I pray that as you read this you take the time to pray for Avery and his family, for God's healing, provision and strength.  The miraculous plight of Baby Avery is, in reality, a blessing and celebration of life and love.  

May God bless you as you pray for blessing over the Stitt family!