Three Little Birds
Faith, Hope, and Love
by
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Living life as a Christian means “living life to a higher calling”. When we face trials and tests of our faith during our lives how do we continue to live this “higher calling” lifestyle especially during the darkest days you experience in your life? How do you continue to remain faithful to God during hardships and “live a life worthy of your calling” as the Apostle Paul wrote and encouraged the Ephesians and Christians to do in the book of Ephesians?
For some, living life to your fullest according to God’s desires at times seems difficult. When tragedies occur in your family or relationships, at times attempting to just get up out of the bed every day may seem impossible. Depression and anxiety may set in and at times may attempt to take over your life especially during tragedies. Three Little Birds: Faith, Hope and Love is proof living a full life during hardships is possible by utilizing the gifts God provides us. Even when the hardships of life seem overbearing God’s greatest gifts given to us: faith, hope and love shine and remain in our lives no matter how stormy the days become and how dark the nights seem in your life. During these trials: faith, hope and love always glitter specks of light upon us, shine and brighten our days during dark times. Open your eyes, lean on a friend, or simply ask for help in order to continue living. God faithfully provides our needs. Our job is to just make sure our eyes as well as our hearts are open wide and willing to receive these gifts.
My vision of a “higher calling” came unexpectedly, seven months ago on May 17, 2011 with the birth of my third child James Robert Martin. I continue to strive to live faithfully as a Christian during one of the toughest trials of my life and share my story of The Three Little Birds with you hoping and praying you too will find strength and comfort along your journey and trials. Three Little Birds: Faith, Hope and Love, a true story, walks you through four months of “birds chirping” God’s songs of praises, promises, trails and suffering. I share this true story as I strive to continue to “live life to a higher calling” as a Christian. My life’s passion and mission is to improve the world “One Baby Step at a Time” by serving others and local charities involved with families of children who are chronically ill. I believe by the grace of God and support and love from the community of God’s followers we can continue “living life to a higher calling” through trials and tests of faith even if it is “One baby step at a time”.
I truly believe with the support and love of God, we all are able to support and help other families in need “one baby step at a time” as we continue to spread God’s gifts of faith, hope and love. May your hearts and loving hands continue to remain faithful to God during the dark days and stormy nights. Never give up hope and always continue to love yourself as well as others during storms. May your hearts be nurtured and healed through love from the community of God as well as God’s grace. May this story help you hear the birds chirp daily in your walk with God as well as your walk to “live life to a higher calling”.
Blessings to you for journeys full of birds chirping songs of faith, hope and love!
Jacqueline
"Nurse Mom"
P A R T I
Faith
Faith is a bird that feels dawn breaking and sings while it is still dark.
Rabindranath Tagore
Faith: is a belief or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof. Faith is what you hold onto when you do not have anything else to grasp onto tightly when times get tough and trails appear in your life. Faith is what you lean upon on when your child is born premature with a congenital heart defect and you are "thrown" unexceptionally into a life of charity.
One guarantee in life is everyone endures hardships in their life and receives a test of their faith during these difficult times. This test of faith enables us to continue to count as well as remember our blessings. This test of faith seems to "hide" the world’s beautiful colors, silence the chirping and singing of birds and nature seems hidden during these difficult times. In the darkness, faith continues to shine brightly.
During difficult times, community and help from others allows us to continue "standing" and getting through the trials. With the help of others, the world's colors shine brightly and open our eyes to different experiences, trials and journeys in our life as well as the journeys of others. If only we can see how the world continues to shine bright with faith. If only we can accept the help of others and embrace the love and community God provides and continue to remain faithful to God. God is good. All the time!
CHAPTER 1
In The Beginning
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Delivery Day
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 7:46 p.m
Happy Birthday James! I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to my cell phone beeping low battery. Both my hands were numb, my stomach was very sick and I had a throbbing headache. I woke JJ, my husband up and we decided to go to the hospital, Greenville Memorial. Happy Birthday Frack! Today was Frack’s (James Sister) 7th Birthday as well. Frick, James older brother and Frack went with us to the hospital and Mama Peacock picked them up.
After checking into the triage unit on the 6th floor the doctors discovered my blood pressure was high and the lab work showed elevated enzymes which meant my liver function was getting effected. I was admitted to the high risk area room #6416 with the thought we would be waiting a few days before we delivered baby James. The original plan was to try to get another round of steroids, a 48 hour process, in my body to help mature James’ lungs. I had already had a series of shots a month prior when I was admitted in the hospital in April for several days for precautionary reasons.
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About the Book
Three Little Birds: Faith, Hope, and Love is a raw and true story written during the life and loss of Jacqueline Martin’s third child, James Robert. This story is meant to inspire and counsel readers, especially those facing a difficult journey of their own. James was born prematurely and with a rare congenital heart defect on May 17, 2011, and passed away on September 14, 2011. Three Little Birds: Faith, Hope, and Love is a testimony to the power of prayer and provides proof that God made sure Jacqueline and her family did not have to face this painful journey to physical and emotional wholeness alone.
Jacqueline’s story speaks about her personal experience as a mom and about her attempt to live her life faithfully as a Christian while she managed the toughest trial of her life during a “parent’s worst nightmare”—losing a child. Living life as a Christian means living life to a higher calling. Jacqueline’s story is about taking a parent’s worst nightmare and turning it into something extraordinary by improving the lives of others one baby step at a time. Imbued in Jacqueline’s writing is the Martin family’s message of faith, hope, and love in a direct metaphor for the three little birds. The three little birds are represented by her three children, as well as the greatest gifts of God.
Everyone endures hardships in their lives and receives tests of their faith during these difficult times. These tests of faith enable us to continue to count as well as remember our blessings. They seem to hide the world’s nature and beautiful colors, silencing the chirping and singing of birds. During difficult times, community and help from others allow us to continue standing and to get through the trials. With the help of others, the world’s colors shine brightly and open our eyes to different experiences, trials, and journeys in our life as well as the journeys of others.
About the Author
Jacqueline McDaniels Martin is President and Founder of Three Little Birds, Inc. a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and serving other bereaved parents and their families who have loss a child. Three Little Birds, Inc. provides support to bereaved parents while offering understanding, friendship and most of all hope. This support is offered through Christian grief-designed programs, events and local community mission.
Jacqueline is currently the Director of Youth Ministries at St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. Her life’s mission is to improve the world “One Baby Step at a Time” by serving others and other local charities involved with the families of children who are critically ill or have passed away. She works to support families through her writing, public speaking, and last by providing financial and physical support to local charities and people in need. She is a bereaved mother of an infant, James Robert Martin. She is also the mother of two healthy and wonderful children Jack and Julia. She remains happily married, currently in her twelfth year of marriage to her husband JJ.