LIFE carries on against the odds. And it is a miracle when it happens.

I saw this first-hand last week when for the first time I went to theatre.

The reason for this visit was that a baby was due to be born who was not expected to live for more than a few minutes. The parents had asked for a baptism and so on that morning in theatre I met mum and dad and beautiful baby girl, their daughter.

She was being held by her mum with dad close by the side and after a few introductions we did the baptism in what we all thought may be the closing minutes of this little one’s life. It was a beautiful occasion.

When I first went into the room I noticed the noise: staff communicating with one another; the beeping of machines; and various background noises. But as we did this little service for this little girl in the room became a silent space and I dare to say a sacred space.

After a few minutes I left the staff to get on with their important work, but I also left thinking how precious it was that this mum and dad had had time to spend with their little girl. A few precious moments. But life defies the odds.

And so the next day I enquired about the family again. Only to hear that this little girl had rallied around and was now taking feeds from a bottle. I was asked if I would go back and do the same service but this time with more space opportunity and time.

And so I did. I went into the room on delivery suite overjoyed to see this new family unit surrounded by grandparents. And this little girl was now in her christening gown which since the early 1900s had been the gown worn by family members at their baptisms. It was a most beautiful time and baby cooed and gurgled her “amens” in the prayers.

There was a sense of celebration and joy in the room at the gift of this child and so should there be. This miracle baby had defied expectations. None of us know what the future is. All we have is the “now”.

And for the now I can see that the baby who fought against the odds has had the chance to bring more joy to her family and was ever expected. Miracles, it seems to me, happen every day. You just need to know how to look for them.