About 4 ½ years ago we all gathered together RIGHT in this same church to shower Abi and Vic with love and gifts to help them begin life with Thor. I LEFT their story with asking for everyone to keep them in their prayers and that God deliver Thor at the RIGHT time. And Thor made his appearance at God’s RIGHT time – not necessarily his due date, but definitely God’s RIGHT time.
Once again Abi and Vic were LEFT with challenges to face. Thor was 5 weeks premature and had a few complications that required a longer stay in the NICU. Abi and Vic LEFT for home only at night to shower and get some rest. In the morning they would head RIGHT back to hospital to help care for Thor. Abi and Vic LEFT no room for the devil to take a foothold in their hearts or in their family. There they were a week after Thor’s birth RIGHT on stage leading praise and worship! A few weeks after his birth Thor LEFT the hospital to begin life in the Austria home.
Life changed for Abi and Vic as it does for all new parents. There is no book of instructions on raising a child or children. We are LEFT to trust and depend on the Lord for his guidance. Trust that He leads in the RIGHT direction every day. Abi was fortunate to work from home while caring for Thor. He would sleep RIGHT in the pack in play while she worked. Vic LEFT work each day eagerly looking forward to spending time with his son. They had fun this family of three being thankful for the blessings they received. Vic and Abi learned all the tricks of traveling with a baby and then a toddler as they LEFT Chicago RIGHT for Boston for Sam and Amanda’s wedding. Then they flew RIGHT to the Philippines to introduce Thor to family and friends. They flew RIGHT to Florida, then to Qatar and then to California. Thor has more stamps in his passport than all of us combined! Thor was growing – walking, running, talking and learning. He sings praise songs RIGHT along with his mama and daddy. He reads his bible RIGHT along side Mama at night and memorizes his weekly bible verses. He wants to take the ‘Most Holy’ award away from his Daddy!!!
Then life changed again when the pandemic hit in March of 2020. Abi and Vic, like all of us were LEFT with trying to make sense of what was going on. We had to sift through what news was RIGHT all the while wondering what God was doing. Abi and Vic conclude that they were LEFT to simply trust and depend on our Lord who is faithful. It was a hard year as travel orders and shut down orders prohibited gatherings. One thing Abi and Vic looked forward to was - Sunday worship. A time to meet their family in Christ and praise God. The joy in their praise and worship LEFT no room for anything to sneak in and draw you away from worship. They were RIGHT on it every Sunday. Abi’s arms would be raised – first the RIGHT then the LEFT giving all she had to God. Sweat would bead on Vic’s head as his RIGHT hand strummed his guitar and his LEFT hand played the chords. This was the moment – the time – when the words pandemic and Covid didn’t exist because it was Vic and Abi in prayer with the Lord and you could see how RIGHT it was and the joy in participating in it LEFT no room for anything else but God.
Funny how when you are busy with the Lord’s work – the Lord gets busy for you. And so in the fall Abi had this craving for cinnamon bread. She craved it RIGHT when she got up, RIGHT when she ate lunch, and RIGHT before bed. I heard that she and Thor tossed a coin once for the LEFTover pieces in the bag!!!! Ok that part is not true! She actually gave him the pieces. She didn’t think much of it until RIGHT before Christmas when she discovered God had a plan for her family. Though Thor really wanted a brother – God has blessed him with a sister – Nika. Please keep the Austria family in your prayers for Abi’s health and for Nika’s growth. May God continue to bless Vic and Abi to grow in their relationship with him and to teach Thor and Nika to never ever veer to the RIGHT or LEFT of God’s teaching.
Written by Auntie D
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