Best of 2011 Blog Hop and Giveaway

Lugging brushed and tins of paint, we climbed two flights of stairs to the children’s ward of the public hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The walls and windows were bare and dirty, offering no source of entertainment or distraction. The children stayed six to ten in a room and there was one bathroom and a shower to share for the whole floor. Each room had a small sink with cold water and each patient was responsible for their own soap and towel.

We hoped to brighten up the place by painting cartoon figures, animals, and Bible characters: anything to break the monotony for the children.

Down one hall was a room with glass windows and there were twelve cribs inside. Lying on the cold vinyl covered bed closest to the window was a baby, bound in white cloth, and wrapped with masking tape. On the masking tape was written in black magic marker, “682”. 

I asked of an onlooker, “What happened?”

“He died this morning (seven hours ago). The morgue has not come to pick him up,” he replied.

“Where is the mother?” I asked, my first thought being to comfort her and pray with her.

“There is no mother. The baby was abandoned.”

This was a phrase I had heard all too often and my heart broke for little 682.  He had no name. He had died alone, and lay wrapped in cloth, awaiting the time to be taken away. No one mourned him. No one cared. He would have no burial.

And then I saw a hand. And on the palm of the hand was written, “682.”

And it was the hand of God.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Through she may forget you, I will never forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16

His earthy mother may have abandoned him, but his Heavenly Father took him home. 


This was my post of 2011 that received the most comments.  My post with the most hits was also from the hospital in Honduras and titled Dulce Maria.


Now it is time to link your best of 2011.  Please link back to this blog so others can join.  Make a new post and either repost your post or link back to it.  I do not have a button so just link back to Best of 2011 at http://www.shandaoakleyinspires.com

This blog hop is in light of my One Year Blogaversary so I will be giving away a handbag I purchased in South Africa last month. You will receive an entry for every post you link, every comment, and every follow on GFC or FB. Happy New Year!!