Lord, Let Him Serve in the Temple

 At the six-month point of my second pregnancy, I was already having problems. I walked around, appearing as though it were past time to deliver my baby. An ultrasound examination was urgently needed. However, during those days in Jamaica, where I live, the ultrasound machine was a novelty. There was only one on the island. After a very long road trip from the western end of the island to the eastern section, my husband and I arrived in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital. There we went to the medical facility to which I had been referred and were quickly ushered into the examination room. After being prepared for the ultrasound, I was allowed a little time to rest before the examining doctor joined us.

Sometime later, an energetic man entered and introduced himself as the doctor in charge. He appeared warm and caring. After asking me a few health-related questions, he began moving the ultrasound probe across my overextended abdomen. Upon seeing the unborn child, he excitedly exclaimed, “What a big boy!” As the doctor continued his checks, he conversed with my husband. I closed my eyes and lifted my heart heavenward in prayer. Dear God, thank You for giving me a son. I thank You that he is well and strong. Could You please bless him and make him be like the biblical child Samuel? Lord, let him serve in Your temple all the days of his life. Now, I give him back to You from his mother’s womb. Please receive him. Amen. In God’s time, my son was born.

I was extremely careful with my son’s training and development. After all, I had made a promise to God. I wanted to use every opportunity I could find to ensure my boy would serve in “the temple.” In my mind, I visualized him helping sweep and clean the church, along with other domestic-related church activities. That was my limited vision of his serving in the temple. Today, God has given me more than I ever expected. That baby is now a humble, grown minister of the gospel. He not only preaches and teaches but is an accomplished musician and singer of the songs of Zion—all to the honor and glory of God. God had mercy on the simple prayer of an anxious mother’s heart and gave her far more than she expected. What a mighty God we serve!

Jacqueline Hope HoShing-Clarke