God’s Choice

"Is it a boy? It is, isn't it?" Carter jumped around the kitchen while his grandmother talked to his dad at the hospital. Carter was so excited, he almost dropped the apple he was eating. "It's a boy, isn't it, Grandma?"Grandma hung up the phone. "You now have a beautiful baby sister," she said gently. "Her name is Oakleigh.""No!" Carter dropped his apple. "I've been praying for months for a brother." He felt like crying. "It's not fair! Oscar got a baby brother, and he didn't pray at all. Why wouldn't God give me a brother when I asked for one?"Grandma leaned against the counter. "I remember how happy your mom and dad were when they were expecting you. When people asked if they wanted a girl or a boy, they said they just wanted a healthy baby."Carter picked up his apple from the floor and rinsed it off at the sink. "I'm sure they were glad I turned out to be a boy.""Yes, but I was a little bit disappointed. I was hoping for a little granddaughter.""Grandma!" Carter was shocked. "You didn't want me?""Of course I did! But I already had three grandsons. I thought it would be nice to have a girl in the family. But another boy was God's choice for them, and you know what? Now I couldn't love anybody more." She gave Carter a big hug.Carter sighed. "I still don't think it was very nice of you to wish I was a girl!"Grandma's eyes twinkled. "No nicer than for you to wish your sister was a boy."Carter looked surprised. "I guess I wasn't being nice either.""I know you were hoping for a brother, Carter, but God has given you the gift of a baby sister instead. Remember that He loves her just as much as He loves you, and He will help you be a good brother to her." Grandma squeezed Carter's shoulder. "Even though a sister isn't what you were expecting, God's gifts to us are always good, and we can be thankful knowing the same God who loves us so much He saved us from sin promises to do what He knows is best."Carter nodded and bit into his apple. "So when can Oakleigh come home?" -Ruth McQuilkin