After all the trials, Texas church member receives an unexpected blessing — a son with a biblical name.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
LANCASTER, Texas — “Amazing Grace” welcomed tiny Samuel Souder to his first church service.
Through the nursery glass echoed the sweet sound of the Cold Springs Church of Christ singing the familiar tune.
Derek and Della Souder softly mouthed the words of the beloved hymn as they changed their newborn’s diaper and soothed his tears.
Della lost her eyesight during a lengthy battle with COVID-19, so the famous lyric “was blind, but now I see” presents a certain irony. Still, the 34-year-old mother has no doubt amazing grace has led her through “many dangers, toils and snares.”
Samuel — 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long — arrived a few weeks before the recent Sunday morning assembly. His Sept. 21 birth blessed a Christian family that had endured two years of tribulation before the unexpected pregnancy.
“This was not planned at all,” Della said with a chuckle. “In July last year, we gave the baby bed away. We donated everything, even all the infant toys. And then in February, we found out we were having a baby.”
For the Souders, who also have an 8-year-old son, Ely, Samuel came as a miracle to remind them of the goodness of God.
The family’s home congregation, with deep roots dating back to 1845 in this community about 15 miles south of Dallas, shared in their joy.
“Blessings come out of tragedies for sure,” Della said.
This story appears in the online edition of The Christian Chronicle.
Photo by Audrey Jackson
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