Ah, yes. Virginia, Minnesota. The Mesabi Range. Iron ore. Three hours north of Minneapolis and an hour northwest of Duluth.
But it wasn’t iron ore that interested me in Virginia. It was the birth of a 7 pound 11 ounces girl on June 27th that changed the trajectory of my life. Nearly eight hours from Virginia, I was just finding my walking legs as a one year old.
Mary’s dad was an electrical engineer who worked on the range as an electrician, and her mom was the daughter of a Finnish copper miner from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She joined an older brother and sister.
Minnesota, Michigan, California, back to Michigan, then to Indiana… and Virginia, Minnesota met Wheaton, Illinois on a winter walk at Taylor University.
Providence navigated the timeline and the miles.
After Mary’s routine delivery, the mailman stuffed an envelope into a mailbox at 805 3rd Avenue South in Virginia, MN in early July. The small ledger like invoice was from the Virginia Municipal Hospital. $128.92 was what five days of care would cost Don and Eunice Cargo. Actually, my father-in-law wrote the check before the July 31st deadline and received a discount of $6.45. Essentially, $122.47 changed my life forever.
A “Storkgram” by Western Union announced the birth to family… “Girl Cargo born this noon 7 pounds 11 ounces mother and daughter fine no complications.”
I was nearly twenty years old when I caught sight of the girl from Virginia, Minnesota. It was in the cafeteria line as I recall. A green-hooded sweatshirt and an electric smile. The seed of love found fertile soil.
Destiny. Oh sweet providential destiny.
Mary’s birthday ushered me to the front row of God’s purpose and plan. I visualized the knitting needles in the hands of the Creator.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
In Virginia. In the hands of God.
As the pace of life moved at blistering levels… I paused. Not to buy a birthday card, but to retrieve the beauty and joy of 29 and 31 year old parents in Minnesota. Joy imputed to me.
Mary Christine Cargo. Delivered by Dr. Jack Pierce. Entrusted to me.
$122.47 that changed my life. Forever.
Happy Birthday sweet Mary.
Thank you Heavenly Father.
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