Sandy Griffith has a big heart for tiny babies. Every Friday morning you'll find this Halftimer in the level 2, high-risk nursery unit of Houston's Ben Taub Hospital. Sitting in a circle of rocking chairs donated by her church, this 44-year-old mother of two rocks, feeds, soothes and, most importantly, blesses premature infants and those struggling to overcome other severe health problems.

"Every baby should begin life with a blessing," she says, "and my joy is found in asking God to bless each baby I hold."

Sandy rarely meets the mothers of the babies she nurtures, but she understands their fear and pain. Fifteen years ago, Sandy held her own premature son.

"I was able to be there with him the entire time he was in intensive care. While I held him, I looked around the room and realized there were 10 others babies in that nursery, some who had been there six months or longer. The nurses did what they could, but my son was the only baby held for any length of time. It was heartbreaking. My degree is in early childhood education; I know how important early bonding is. As I held my son, I promised God and myself that if I ever had the opportunity, I was going to rock and hold babies for mothers who can't be there."

Eight years later God reminded Sandy of that promise. After trying for five years to have a third child, "God's answer was no. I had to accept that," Sandy confesses. "And that's when God reminded me of the promise I had made. My arms still ached for another baby, but it hit me that maybe God was telling me I was supposed to give that love to someone else's child, not my own."

Born with a gung-ho spirit, Sandy immediately called the hospitals in her area to volunteer. To her surprise, the affluent hospitals near her home declined, but two years later the county hospital across town threw open its doors to her desire to open her arms. Sandy began her first Friday vigil holding, feeding, and blessing the premature babies of 14-year-old mothers, crack addicts, and the working poor. And from the moment she gently held her first fragile infant she knew, at long last, she was in the right place, at the right time, for all the right reasons.

"Initially I went there to fill my arms, but I quickly realized it wasn't about me, it was what God wanted to do through me. My leadership role has always been to listen for the needs and match them to individuals who can supply them if possible." And what God has done through Sandy Griffith is to encourage many other tender-hearted souls from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church to wrap their hearts and arms around this unique ministry. The church also funded a playroom for siblings, allowing moms bonding time with their babies. Two mini apartments, also funded by the church, enable working parents to spend the night with their infants and learn vital medical skills. Perhaps most touching is the sewing circle of senior adult women who make beautiful gowns, caps, booties, and blankets as special bereavement gifts for families whose babies don't make it. A nurse dresses an infant in the special clothing and blanket so that the last memory grieving parents have of their child is his or her sweet face framed by beautiful, handmade garments.

"Our senior ladies recently made 47 bereavement packages, from Barbie-doll size to full-term. It's very touching, and the parents are extremely grateful," says Sandy. A promise this mother made 15 years ago has led her on a halftime journey that is a real faith walk.

"I rock, feed, and nurture these babies one day a week, so I don't really get the rest of the story; I don't get to see the end miracle. I just rely on God that my being there is making a difference. Sometimes, in obedience to Him, we plant the seed, but we don't get to see the bloom. My joy is not that I get to see it all work out; my joy is knowing that what I'm doing is helping a piece of it work out. I give the babies a blessing, and God honors that. He constantly reminds me, 'Sandy, you can't fix the world, but I can.'"

What blessing does Sandy say over these tiny babies? "'Go into the world in peace, expecting always the unexpected and anticipate miracles, knowing that with God all things are possible.' When I feed the babies, they're in various stage of alertness, depending on how preemie they are. Some barely wake up; some have difficulty feeding; some are fidgety and nervous. But when I begin to pray over them, they calm right down. It's a beautiful thing. Some will almost be asleep, but I'll start my blessing and their little eyes will pop open.

"I came to Ben Taub Hospital to fill my arms, to give love," Sandy confesses, "but I'm the one who has been showered with love. I couldn't be in a more blessed situation."

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