Joyful Witness / Kimberly Pohovey

God lines up the village we need to thrive in this world

It was April 2004 and the long-anticipated birth of three little lives finally arrived. When I say “little” I mean little. They each weighed 2 pounds and some ounces. My niece Michelle was on bed rest for a couple months which was difficult enough for a normally athletic individual. But that was nothing compared to the marathon of raising triplets.

Michelle and her husband, Jeff, couldn’t have been happier when Jake, Madison and Morgan made their appearance. By God’s grace, they were born healthy. They were so tiny at first, it was hard to picture them all grown up.

We all know the phrase “it takes a village,” and I’m sure most parents of multiples know how true it is when you need to rely on family and friends surrounding you.

Michelle and Jeff were blessed with lots of family members—parents, siblings and extended family members who not only helped feed, change and watch the triplets, they also helped raise them. And the triplets have been the recipients of many, many prayers from the village that surrounds them.

These 2-pound babies were fighters. They grew in size, intelligence, athleticism and inward and outward beauty. My husband and I are godparents to Madison. She is gorgeous, bright and strong. Jake is intelligent, mature and driven. Morgan is beautiful, kind and possesses a quiet determination. Like any other teenagers their age, they have faced their own challenges.

Madison had a sidelining injury to both feet while playing varsity soccer for her high school. But she was determined to play through the pain. She ended her soccer career as captain of the team that won the Ohio state girls’ championships.

Jake excelled in leadership as well, playing golf for his high school. He is driven to succeed and used his intelligence to conquer the mental game that golf requires. He also served as student council president his senior year.

Morgan is the smallest but mightiest. She has a quiet strength that has helped her achieve in school despite learning challenges. At one time, teachers told her parents that she would never be able to go to college. She is proving them wrong.

At their high school graduations, all three received top honors and awards—some athletic, some academic, some for leadership and some for truly being kind individuals. I am so impressed with all three of them. I am even more impressed with their parents. And I’m grateful for the many teachers, coaches, family and friends who have been there for them. I can’t help thinking the supportive village surrounding them has also had a hand in forming them into the mature young adults they are today.

I recently attended their high school graduation party. I looked around the room at the gathering and thought about the many people God placed in their lives to help raise these incredible triplets. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors and all the prayer warriors, they all had a hand in caring for and encouraging them to succeed. Raising triplets wasn’t always easy for Michelle and Jeff, but today was a celebration of getting them to this day as high school graduates.

As I helped my niece clean up after the party, I caught her in a moment alone and let her know how incredibly proud I was of her for raising such great kids—basically being the Mom that God knew they needed. She paused and looked at me with sincerity and said how much that meant to her. Then I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving to God for the village that helped shape these tiny beings into the mature young persons they are today. It’s remarkable how God lines up the village each of us needs to thrive in this world.
 

(Kimberly Pohovey is a member of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis. She is the director of major and planned gifts for the archdiocese.) †