Yesterday our Jamie turned 1. Amazing.
Our friend Katie made us all shirts with our ages. Mine has a ? with “not a chance” written across. Brandon’s idea.
What has struck me again and again is that a year ago at this time we didn’t even know he existed. Sure, we had faith that God would bring us our child. But we didn’t know when they would be born or what they would look like.
We didn’t know it would be our Jamie.
And as we have celebrated our son, another person has been consistently and constantly on my mind…his birthmom. A woman I will never know but who has changed our lives most profoundly. A woman whose bravery astounds me, whose courage humbles me and whose love for our (her’s and my) son is so inspiring. And I don’t even know what she looks like. I don’t even know her name.
Here’s what I do “officially” know: On March 3 an African American woman brought a newborn baby to a Safe Haven in Chicago. He had been born the day before at home. She handed him to an authority and said she couldn’t give him the care he needs.
I believe she wanted to make sure he was safe. I believe she wanted to make sure he would be alright. I know that she loved our son.
Today has been a day full of tears as I have wondered what she might be experiencing. As we have faced March 2 and 3 with the utmost joy at our Jamie, she has come crashing into what was perhaps the most difficult day of her life.
As we have decorated cupcakes and celebrated with friends, I imagine she has grieved mostly in solitude. It’s very possible that most of the people in her life do not even know what this date means to her.
When we began to tell people the story of Jamie’s birth (find it here), we got a mixture of responses and I was surprised at how many people responded with anger towards this woman. There were people who wanted to blame her or who felt that her actions showed how little she cared for Jamie.
I believe they’re wrong. I believe she cared for this little boy very much, for so many reasons. She carried him to term and gave birth to him safely. She didn’t leave him on a doorstep but gave him to a trusted authority figure. From the time that he was born he was calm and snuggly. He didn’t appear to show any signs of trauma or stress. He was totally healthy. He had no drug or alcohol exposure. Whatever her reasons may have been, I believe she was trying to make the best decision for a baby she deeply cared for.
One of my prayers today has been for this woman’s heart. I have prayed that she might feel peace. That, somehow, God would assure her that her son is safe. He’s happy and healthy. He has two parents who love him deeply. He is surrounded by family and a community that are madly in love with him. He is thriving. I want her to know it all turned out okay. She did a good thing.
And we are so thankful. Truly, incredibly thankful.
(Simply)Laugh 
Beautiful, Amy (but you really MUST stop making me cry!) I can only agree with you about Jamie’s birthmom’s love and courage; it’s what I believe about Anna’s birthmom as well. Only God knows the depths of these mothers’ hearts, and I pray His love will reach down deep for them. We have a wonderful treasure in our children, but at what a cost! Thank you for sharing, both this morning and in this blog.
Beautifully written, sweet Amy! As Jamie’s Grammy, I too am so thankful for his birth mom and the decisions she made that resulted in a beautiful, healthy child for my son and daughter-in-love. I know people say he is lucky to the have the two of you as his parents, and I agree because I know you will love him unconditionally all the days of his life. But he is also lucky to have the birth mom that he has, who obviously loved him too – enough to sacrifice and do what she felt was best for him and his future. I personally cannot fathom being in her shoes. Thank you for the reminder to continue praying for her.