Olivia is her name, but in small circles we call her "our miracle child". When we lost our second baby five months into the pregnancy, we said we would never again risk that kind of suffering, that much sorrow, that deep of a loss, and such profound sadness which engulfed our family so much that it nearly destroyed us. We were certain our wounds would never heal, but to our relief, they did, and about a year and a half later, the desire to try and have another baby returned to our souls.
Soon, Olivia was conceived. Seven months into the pregnancy, I went into pre-term labor. A part of my brain thought "Here we go again...we are going to lose her." But a louder voice spoke up and said "NO! You are not going to lose me...but you must be strong and do as I say in order to save me." The louder voice was the voice of the unborn Olivia, and what she told me to do was "STOP...LISTEN...and REST," which I did for two weeks at home in bed. I knew in that moment that I was carrying a special soul, a soul with a destiny to fulfill,messages to give, lessons to teach,and I was to be her first student.
Two weeks early from full-term, a tiny, quiet, fragile Olivia was finally born into this great big world. We had already heard her voice, even before the faint cries from her tiny lungs touched our ears. She was an oh-so quiet baby, but her eyes were wide and deep, full of expression. As she grew over the months, she became more and more vocal and animated. Her once smooth head with fine black hair became covered with wild, curly locks that could not be tamed. Each day of her life, Olivia has marched to the beat of her own drum...a drum that's part of her own marching band. She only wears shoes when she absolutely has to. She picks weeds and makes beautiful bouquets out of them. She plays all day long in a house made out of cardboard in our garage. One afternoon, she insisted on making us lunch: a cheese, ketchup and carrot sandwich. After she sat and watched us all poliltely eat our entire sandwiches, she took one bite of hers, spit it out, and said "Ewww! This is horrible!"
Olivia likes to wear the same dress day after day after day until it practically falls off, or finally rips, and even then she puts it on knowing I will tell her to take it off. She has dimples and curly locks of hair that rival Shirley Temple's and a smile that puts Julia Roberts' to shame. Her eyes sparkle like crystals, and when she puts it all together...that smile, those dimples, the curly hair, and a personality that's as unique and genuine as Coca Cola, Levis jeans, and Hersheys chocolate, she's simply irresistible...she's simply a miracle.
Olivia has changed lives one moment a time, one laugh at a time, one smile at a time, one eye twinkle at a time, one hug at a time, one understanding tear at a time. Her deep mind and empathetic soul races with thoughts like a wild stallion running through a wide open prairie, but she shields it all with that beaming smile that just cannot be resisted. All who see her cannot help but smile, for she personifies living life to the fullest every moment of every day.
Each night before we eat dinner, Olivia faithfully reminds us all that "we must pray." Her tiny hands reach out and invite us all to form a chain of thankful hands as we pray the same, simple prayer each night: "Dear Lord, Jesus...thank you for this meal...and every day of our lives...we love you...Amen." No meal is ever eaten together without this prayer being said, and it is always, ALWAYS, Olivia who reminds us to say it.
Olivia personifies unconditional love. She reaches out to everyone she meets: sick, healthy, depressed, happy...and offers hugs to anyone who will accept one from her. She says "hello" to everyone she meets and always says "goodbye" to those same folks. One night recently, when we were lying on the grass and saw the first star of the night, she whispered out the following wish:
"I wish that one day everyone in the entire world will know who I am...including China and Japan." I tried not to laugh, for I knew she wished this wish with the greatest sincerity, yet with the utmost humility and innocence of a 5-year -old.
To meet Olivia is to never forget her. Her mere existence has already healed lives and relationships. To watch her life unfold is exciting and slightlly scary at the same time, for she reveals the absolute truth, brilliance and perfection in the creation that is not just her...but in each and every human being. Olivia is my miracle child who has taught me how to
stop...listen...and rest...and most importantly...
to just BE.
Every day, Olivia is doing only what she knows best, and that is how to be Olivia as genuinely as she knows how, and there is nothing that can stop her from doing so. She has so much living to live and it is by her example I try to live my own life by. I am Olivia's mother, but I am also Olivia's student, and it is such an honor to be in this interesting co-creating relationship with her. She is my miracle child, and I just thought I would tell you all her story. Besides, her wish is to one day be known by the entire world, including China and Japan. Where else is a mother to start?