Battles And Front Lines Devotional By Rita SpringerChikamu

Raising Einstein

“When I look at you, I catch my breath, I lose my mind for a moment

-Rita Springer

Love With Justice

I adopted a baby boy in 2004. God asked me to, and I obeyed! That 7 pound 12 ounce baby boy will always be the best song I ever wrote. I did not need to have someone who looked like me; I wasn’t looking for a blue-eyed recollection of myself. I simply wanted what God wanted, and my only request was that the baby would not be white. I love the color of brown skin, and I thought it would be the greatest honor to raise an African baby. I got my wish. We (God and I) named him Justice. He was healthy, gorgeous, and such a perfect baby. At about 18 months, though, he quit talking. He stopped looking me in the eye and seemed to just not care if he ever repeated a word again. By 24 months, I was worried. My pediatrician sent me into a fit of panic, and for the next eight months, my poor baby was taken to doctor after doctor and given test after test because things he did (that seemed normal to me) were now suspect on a spectrum! I grabbed every scripture on trusting in God and cried as I watched Justice struggle in speech and occupational therapy. I was a wreck and an anxious mess. When I prayed, God would remind me of what He HAD said about Justice. However, that season was a blizzard of emotions, and honesty, I worried more about the diagnosis than what God had already spoken when my son was born.

It wasn’t until one night, fraught with fear, I heard God through a magazine ad. I was unconsciously flipping through a parenting magazine while praying, and I turned to a page with an ad for children’s clothing. The young model’s shirt caught my eye. It said, “Einstein was a late talker too!” The rush of the presence of God flooded my room, and I could finally hear His voice above the panic in my soul. It was in that moment I knew nothing was wrong with Justice. The next day, I pulled him out of every therapy, and he never went back. When Justice turned three, he began to talk, and by four, he would not shut up!

Why do we let circumstance threaten our future and destiny? My sweet Einstein simply did not have a thing wrong with him. Twelve years later, he is a brilliant, smart, and insanely creative young man. I encourage you today to stop focusing on the threat and remember what God has said! All His promises are yes and amen. Remind yourself of His truths and turn away from reports and threats that steal your peace!