Jeremiah Enoch Swaffer

This is long overdue, but due to the nature of the last week and a half it is finally here.

This post is intended to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and magnify His greatness in our lives.

On June 25, 2006 Maria and I went in to the hospital to check on our little baby which was to be due on June 27, 2006. Maria had not felt him move since the previous afternoon, but had been busy working around the house that day and so had not taken full notice of the fact until that previous evening. After sleeping on it that night we felt it best to see the doctor the next moring. At the hospital, they attempted to check the baby's heart beat with a monitor, but were unsuccessful in doing so. After calling in the ultrasound personel, they verified that our baby had no more heartbeat.

What do you do at that point??? Well, we shad some tears and looked to the Lord Jesus Christ for strength. He was already giving it in abundance. Our pastor was already on his way down to the hospital at that point. We called a few family and friends to let them know where we were. A multitude of other calls were made by those family and friends and many of you began beseeching the Lord on our behalf. We immediately sensed the Lord's presence there with us in the room and knew the peace that only He can give.

Maria was taken to a labor/delivery room and was induced at that time. By 7:00 p.m. she had deliver the body of our little one that she had carried for the last nine months. He was a beautiful baby boy weighing in at 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 21 in. long. We were able to hold him and spend time with him even though it was just his earthly shell. We knew the real little one was already in the arms of our dear Savior. Later that evening we named him Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5 ~ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee...) Enoch(Genesis 5:24 ~ Enoch ... was not; for God took him). As it turned out his chord was tied in a knot in two places as well as wrapped around him a couple of times. The doctor commented that with one knot survival was possible, but with two knots it was next to impossible.

The following verses have been especially meaningful and helpful to us:

• Job 1:21 ... the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
• Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
• Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
  
• Psalm 18:1-6, 30-32 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: ... The sorrows of death compassed me, ... In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears... As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect