Last week, almost nine months from the day they began the emotional process of adopting, the Lord allowed them to bring home their son, Lyndon Michael. I think there is beauty and meaning in that.
I watched Jace and Shelly persevere through infertility, and then prayerfully look to for God to direct them to their next steps. I saw them patiently wait to be chosen by a birth mother. I saw the joy of being selected be quietly replaced by anxiety from the birth mother's indecision. I saw sadness and sorrow as the birth mother ultimately rethought her initial decision. I saw God's hand move again as a second birth mother was found, loved, and supported throughout the end of her pregnancy. I experienced the agonizing wait for the baby to arrive and elation when Lyndon finally came home with Jace and Shelly.
This experience has taught me a thing or two about prayer, faith, love, and what it means to be a parent.
Shelly eloquently posted this picture and the accompanying quote and has allowed me to pass it along today. It sums up things far better than I ever could.
"An adopted child isn't an unloved child; rather one that is loved so much by someone that she is willing to sacrifice her greatest accomplishment so that child could have more than just her love. Someone that is willing to break her own heart to mend others. Someone who watches others tears of joy through her own tears of sorrow. An adopted child is not an unwanted child. They are a child who was searched for, prayed for, begged for. Received by arms that ached, making empty hearts whole."
God bless you, Liz. I will forever be in awe of your courage and strength. You have tremendously blessed my family members. We are all better because of your heart and mind. And I thought I knew love already.
