“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Camey Joy is a lovely woman of faith who wrote a book called “Beautifully scarred.” I have not read her book but I listened to her television interview. She was born in Guatemala with a bilateral cleft palate and lip, totally unable to nurse. She seemed destined to die without immediate medical help, so her father wrapped her in a blanket and walked to the nearest hospital to ask for help. He was turned away saying there was no one at that facility who could correct a cleft palate, yet gave him no advice of where to take her.
Her father sat on the front steps of the hospital, feeling helpless and began crying, not knowing what to do next. God sees the cries of the helpless and is truly near to the brokenhearted. At that moment two strangers stood before him and told him about an orphanage where children will receive the medical help they need.
The strangers escorted him to the orphanage, even providing him with something to eat on the way, since he had not eaten all day. When he arrived, they quickly took his baby in, helped to nourish her, arranged for medical help and her adoption.
The father was relieved that the infant girl would be in good hands. He turned to thank the two strangers who brought him there, but they disappeared. The person who met him at the door of the orphanage said that he arrived alone, and there were no other men with him. His rescuers were obviously angels, who appeared as men for a specific mission, and then disappeared. The Lord heard the cries of that father and reached out through two visitors from Heaven to guide him. God had a plan to give hope and a future to a baby girl who would one day share this story.
The baby girl was adopted by a Christian couple in the United States, who named her Camey Joy. She has had 23 surgeries throughout her lifetime to correct a complex cleft palate. She is not only beautiful today, but loves the Lord, sings, tells her story at churches, public events and has written a book of memoirs. If God had not intervened by sending those two angels who led her father to the right place, she would have died as an infant.
As I listened to her interview I was inspired to write about it. Her story just affirms that every life is precious to God, and He doesn’t make mistakes. He has a divine purpose for each life He creates. He gives wisdom and medical skill to surgeons who correct even the most difficult cases like Camey’s.
God also inspires people to start orphanages and connect with medical personnel. It just confirms that God is behind the planning of every humanitarian venture that saves lives. He really is near to the brokenhearted and saves all who are crushed in spirit, as Camey’s biological father once was.
(Psalm 34:18)
We see the defects but God sees the restoration. We see deformity and malformation, but God sees hope, healing and a future. We see a birth anomaly, but God sees His beloved child born for a purpose to know and walk with their Heavenly Father all the days of their life.
Lord, give all those who may feel flawed, rejected or have lost hope, a special inspiration that you love us and have a beautiful plan for everyone’s future. Amen
