Although Mary was in intense pain, the baby had not started to emerge from the birth canal. The EMT ripped open a bag of sterile gauze and a second package containing a thin, sterile cotton blanket.

“Pulling in now,” the ambulance driver shouted from the front.

“The doctor will be here in a few seconds, ma’am,” the EMT told Mary.

When the ambulance stopped, someone opened the rear doors and a short, balding doctor dressed in green scrubs hopped in. He asked the EMT a few questions, did a rapid exam, then said, “Let’s get her into the ER.”

The EMT who had been driving appeared at the back, and the two men carefully pulled the gurney out until its collapsible framework opened and the wheels touched the pavement. Cautiously, unemotionally, they moved the gurney through opened sliding doors, down a long hallway and into an exam room.

Jill, running behind, saw nurses scurrying in. One of them asked, “Are you with her?”

“Yes.”

“Please go to the desk so we can get some information.”

“Okay.” Jill walked through a doorway where the nurse had pointed and found a male nurse in blue scrubs seated at the registration desk. “They told me to give you the information on my friend who was just brought in. We were in an accident and she’s in labor.”

He nodded, pulled a printed form from a cubbyhole, put it on a clipboard and began asking questions. After they had completed the questionnaire, he asked Jill to have a seat in the waiting area. Five minutes later, another nurse came out and spoke to her.

“You were in the same accident with Ms. Chapman? Please come with me and we’ll check you over. Are you feeling pain anywhere?”

“In my neck and right cheek,” Jill told her, as she followed the woman to an exam room.

“Did the airbag deploy?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll take some x-rays, but it’s not unusual to suffer a mild abrasion or bruise on your face from the airbag.”

A physician who introduced himself as Dr. Khan performed Jill’s examination. A half hour later, as Jill was walking back from the radiology department, the male nurse who had registered her approached her in the hall.

“Miss Novak? Your friend gave birth to a healthy girl. Six pounds, thirteen ounces.”

Jill felt a great wave of relief wash over her. She had feared that the airbag or shoulder belt might have injured Mary or the baby. “Can I see Mary now?”

“In a few minutes. Have a seat and we’ll let you know.”

Fifteen minutes later, when they let Jill in to see Mary, they directed her to a different exam room. Mary was lying on a different gurney, several pillows propping her up. In her arms she held a tiny, red-faced baby with a full head of fine, brown hair.

When she saw Jill, Mary said, “Isn’t she beautiful?” Before Jill could reply, Mary’s face puckered and she burst into tears.

No words were necessary between the two friends. Jill understood exactly what Mary was feeling. Now that Mary actually had her baby in her arms, it would be so, so hard to give her up to Elizabeth. Jill put her hand on Mary’s shoulder and squeezed it gently. Then tears began to trickle down her own face. Jill had never experienced anything so happy and so heart-wrenching at the same time.

Finally Mary was able to say, “I can’t keep her. I’m just not strong enough to raise her by myself.”

“I know,” Jill said, reassuring her. “It’s all right. Elizabeth and Kevin will be so good to her, Mary. You know they’ll love her and take good care of her.”

“Yes. I know.”

They were interrupted by the male nurse. “We have a room ready for you now in maternity, Mary.”

“I didn’t think…” Mary said, embarrassed, “are you okay, Jill?”

“Fine. No broken bones, just a few minor bruises.”

“There’s no need for you to stay here tonight,” Mary said. “Why don’t you go to my apartment, get some of my things, and come back in the morning. Oh! My keys. They’re back in your car.”

“No,” the nurse said. “A police officer brought both of your purses in about twenty minutes ago. I’ve got them at the desk. You should call or go into the police station in the morning to fill out the accident report.”

“Okay. Do you know if there’s a rental car agency in town?”

“I think there’s one in Glen Ellyn,” he answered. “They’ll even drive the car to your door and pick you up. Would you like me to call you a taxi?”

“Yes, thank you,” Jill said. “I’ll rent a car in the morning. Anything else you want me to do, Mary?”

“In the morning, would you call my pastor and tell him what happened? His number’s written in the back of my phone book.”

“Sure.” Jill leaned over and kissed Mary on the forehead, then she did the same with the baby. “Get some sleep, Mary. I’ll see you in the morning.”

* * *

When a knock sounded on Mary’s hospital room door at 9:30 the next morning, she was surprised to see not Jill, but Pastor Don.
“Mary! How are you feeling? How is the baby?” he asked, as he clasped her hands warmly and gave her a hug.

“We’re both doing fine. I believe God has been watching over me, Pastor.” She told him about the strange incident with the elderly man ripping the car door off. The old pastor just smiled and nodded his head gently.

“From what Jill told me about the accident when she called this morning, it’s a miracle that all three of you came out of it alive—let alone with no serious injuries.” He pulled up a chair and sat by Mary’s bedside. “And how are you feeling about…the adoption, Mary? Are you having any second thoughts about the arrangements you made with Mr. and Mrs. McAllister?”

“I never expected it to be this hard,” Mary confessed. “To give her up…I feel as if my heart is being torn from my body.”

He held her hand and spoke softly, his eyes glistening. “I am an old man now, and I have seen many terrible—and many wonderful—things in my lifetime. I would be quite disappointed if this wasn’t difficult for you, Mary. But you followed God’s will by having this baby. Your pain will ease, over time, but it will never completely go away. Some pains never do. But the gift you have given this good Christian couple! The joy that this child’s life will bring! And I can promise you something, Mary, because I know this to be true. God will
reward you for your obedience, your suffering, and your generosity. God cannot be outdone. You are hurting now, but your life will change. God will change it.

He has something beautiful in store for you, Mary. You’ll see.”

His words made her eyes well up. She laughed a little and said, “I think I’ve cried more in this last year than I have in all my life.”
“Would you pray with me now?” He bowed his head, still holding her hand, and said quietly, “Lord Jesus, Your servant Mary has honored You with her life. She has honored You through her obedience to You. I ask You to bless her beyond her greatest dreams. I ask You to come into her life and heal her body and her heart as only You can. We pray this in Your holy name. Amen.”

When they looked up, Jill was standing by the foot of the bed, her hands clasped before her. As she raised her head, they saw that her eyes were glistening too. “How are you feeling this morning?” Jill asked.

“Tired,” Mary said. “Very, very tired. But happy. I just know this is all going to work out somehow. Oh! You spoke with Pastor Don on the phone this morning, but you haven’t actually met. Pastor, this is my best friend, Jill Novak.”

“Mary has told me wonderful things about you,” he said, rising from his chair to shake Jill’s hand. He gave a little bow.

Jill blinked. Mary had told her about the man’s background and his twisted body, but it took her a moment to get over the surprise.

“I half-expected to see a halo over your head,” Jill joked, “after the way Mary’s been raving about you.”

That brought a loud chuckle from the old man. “I’m sure it would be very tarnished if there was,” he replied.

“I went to the police station this morning and filled out the accident report,” Jill said. “The driver of the truck just had minor injuries. The police said he lost control because the pavement was so icy.”

For a moment there was an awkward silence as they all looked at each other. Then Jill nervously cleared her throat and spoke.

“Pastor, after everything that happened last night…and after knowing Mary so well and seeing her strength and her kindness and courage, I wonder…I’d like…”

“Yes?” He looked at her expectantly, his eyes sparkling.

“I want what she has. I’ve been…struggling for so long. Mary has talked to me about it many times, but I’ve always pushed her away. Could you…would you help me accept Jesus into my life?”

“It would be my great privilege,” he answered. He motioned toward the door.

“There is a visitor waiting room down the hall that is empty. Come. We’ll talk for a while, then you can make your decision.”

Jill turned to look at her friend before they left the room and saw that Mary had the most lovely, serene smile on her face that she had ever seen.

[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10]

- Jack Zavada
©2006 by www.inspiration-for-singles.com

This a just a chapter of a free ebook entitled “Mary’s Christmas Gift” which can be downloaded from http://www.inspiration-for-singles.com/mary.html

Jack Zavada’s new ebook, Single and Sure, not only shows single people how to rescue themselves, but how to become a happier, more confident person in the process.