| From Lori Kalner to the Thoene family and all who have loved a child.
There was a story I heard in 1949 when I was in Israel.
I did not know then if it could be true, but it gave me such hope at the time that I have not forgotten it.
There was baby girl born in Dachau some weeks before the end of the war and before the liberation of the death camps. The mother had carried her for eight months and was so thin no one knew she was pregnant. The Nazis would have killed the expectant mother at once had they known.
The night the baby was born there was a prisoner who was a nurse living in the barracks. She helped the mother deliver. There was no antiseptic; nothing clean or sterile to wrap the baby in. A thread from a prison garment was used to tie off the cord. The baby was, at most 3 pounds; a tiny thing, and yet as she gave a small bleating cry which awakened life and the will to live and to protect that baby, in the heart of every woman held captive in that hellish place!
I will not speak about what happened to Jewish babies who fell into the hands of Nazis except to say there was great and terrible danger to the baby if she was discovered. Allied bombers passed overhead and the prisoners knew the end of the war was near. If only they could preserve the life of the baby! They thought, the Americans would soon come and perhaps one little life would be saved.
And so began among the women prisoners, an elaborate conspiracy to protect and preserve the life of the little one at all costs. They hid her from the Nazi guards who stopped going into the barracks because of disease. The baby was nursed by her mother and by two other women who had lost their own babies. What little physical surplus these women had on their own bodies, turned to milk for the baby. The three of these women together were able to nurse her and keep her alive. It seemed the ultimate irony that in the midst of such misery was one tiny reminder of God's love. This baby became the symbol of hope for every woman in the barracks. Prisoners shared their rations to the nursing women and gathered round to watch and rejoice when the baby ate. They thought, "If this baby can only survive until the allies come! Perhaps then hope itself will survive."
On the rare occasions the Kapos inspected, the baby was concealed and nursed lest it cry and be discovered.
"God will quiet you with His love." Zephaniah 3:17
All the focus was on this hope that the baby would live. Every heart longed for the life of this innocent baby to be saved.
When, at last, some weeks passed and the allies came in to liberate Dachau, this tiny miracle baby was brought out into the light and given to the Allied Doctors. The story is that she grew up and has had a wonderful life and her children and grandchildren now live in Israel.
I write this story to you because I believe that babies, even very tiny, unexpected ones; babies who face danger when they come into the world; become the mirrors in which God's loving image is reflected in our hearts. They are vulnerable and in need so that we can demonstrate God's love in our actions.
You have found a love so strong for your little one residing in your heart. Love for our children is a surprising love. It overpowers us with a desire to protect and a longing for the little one to grow strong and healthy! We would give up our own life to save our child. Is this not what the Lord did for us?
When we see our own baby for the first time, we understand in that moment how much our parents loved us. We also remember that a child never loves a parent with the strength with which a parent loves a child. But when that child is grown, he loves his children as his parents loved him! And so that immense treasure of love is transferred from generation to generation.
There is a saying that we do not love our children so they will love us…but we love them so they will one day love their children.
We are now all longing for baby Wilke to grow strong and well. We think of her and are reminded of so many other babies and mothers and fathers who also need the nourishment of our prayers and support.
It is never just the mother and father alone who raise a baby, but those all around in extended family and churches who offer their bread of love to help the parents nurse and nourish their little one.
Baby Wilke is only a few days old and the struggle looks long before you but you are not alone. You are weary and may wonder how you will get through this time until the danger is past.
I know you are supported by the love of your family and those around the world who pray in the middle of the night when they awaken. God hears our prayers for the sake of this child. I am certain the love of your family and those of us outside looking on who are praying and who really care for you, will see you through.
Blessings in Jesus the Lord,
Lori Kalner
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