In dedicating this child to God ....

Well it's a very special day. I deserve another fanfare of the day because I did something for the first time again today - I conducted the dedication (the SA name for Christening) of Zachary Christopher Best to God. It was an absolute awesome and beautiful honour and I thank Nic and Pete for allowing me this priviledge and having faith in me to make this special for them and for the responsibilty!

Every child is special - there's no denying it. But Zach is really special! Nic and Pete have been on such a journey to get to this point today and Zach's short life already has been one miracle after another! I'm sure that Nic and Pete won't mind me sharing with you a bit of their story because it just is a great example of the beauty, power and the grace of God!

About a year ago now Nic and Pete were about to start IVF treatment. A number of people were aware of the situation and were praying regularly for them. At Mpower (divisional children's workers training/retreat day) about this time last year, Liz (nic's twin sister), Lee and myself went to a corner with Nic and prayed specifically over Nic about this situation. We prayed that God would get rid of anything which was stopping this from happening and would fill her with his power and peace. We also prayed that if this was not what was right for her and Pete that God would give them the wisdom, guidance and strength to know what they should do. Nic tells me that it was around about this time that she fell pregnant! Wow God! What a miracle and answer to prayer!!!!

Nic had a relatively stress-free pregnancy - she even managed to come to both NRGize (our adventure camp) and MaM (children's summer camp!) and survived both very well. Zachary was due about the 2nd or 3rd week of December but was born a few weeks early. Things were at first fine but then Zach wasn't poohing. He was taken to Poole Hospital and then Southampton General Hospital where was given a wash out and things seemed to be ok. However, he soon developed trouble again and so underwent some tests. I'll never forget walking into the children's intensive care unit at the SGH and seeing him for the first time lying in this little incubator cot - he was so beautiful and so perfect and you would have never have thought all this was going on in his tiny body. Liz and I were there when he sneezed for the first time! Nic was in the process of changing his nappy. His Auntie Lizzie and I were standing at the end of the cot cooing at him when he sneezed. You've never seen Liz and I move so quickly as we were right in the firing range for any bowel explosions should they have happened!! Thankfully all was well.

Anyway, tests revealed that little Zach had Hirsprungs disease. This is basically when a bit of the bowel doesn't communicate with the brain which was causing Zach not to poo. Zach needed to have an operation to rectify this problem. Between the time the disease was diagnosed to the time of the operation which was about a month or so, nurses had to come to the house everyday to wash out Zach and his parents had to take him to hospital at the weekends to have this done. Eventually he had the operation. I remember going to see them in hospital the day of the op. When I arrived Zach wasn't there as he was just coming out of theatre and was in the coming round room. But I got a chance to see Nic and Pete. Bless them, as parents you don't expect to have to go through this especially considering all they'd been through to have him. The time they had to wait seemed like eternity!

Well Zach has come through all that. He will always have the disease but hopefully they will be able to control it so it causes no or little discomfort or embarrassment for him.

So you can see that their journey has been a long eventful one and you can see why today was such a special day for them. Zachary means"not forgotten, God remembers. Renowned by God" we thanked God today that He did not forget Pete and Nic in their desire to have a child and he did not forget Zach as he went through such an eventful first month in this world. He is very loved and very known to God and to his family and friends as well.

So thanks again to Pete and Nic for the priviledge of today. You are beautiful parents and I will watch with great love and interest the rest of Zach's journey.

so lift your glasses and toast Zachary - the one God remembered and Nic and Pete. God bless them all!






I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands

HE KNOWS MY NAME
HE KNOWS MY EVERY THOUGHT
HE SEES EACH TEAR THAT FALLS
AND HE HEARS ME WHEN I CALL

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

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