I was always that person that said, “Lord, I thank You that You call other folks to adopt older children…but it could never be me!”
Funny how that works, isn’t it? In April 2009 the Lord gripped my heart for children aging out, forever losing their chance to have a family.
After assuring ourselves we’d really heard from the Lord, my husband and I plowed through the process to bring home our teen son, at the same time as our 2 year old daughter. We met every obstacle head on, with a determination and faith that God does not make mistakes and His plans cannot be thwarted, all the while clinging to His promise to never leave us.
Once home, our son didn’t know how to become a family, and we realized that even with 21 years of parenting under our belts, we had no idea what we were doing. Every day was different. Some were good, and some seemed endless. We wanted more than anything to heal our son’s broken heart. But we also wanted to avoid the daily conflict and turmoil. Every morning I pleaded with the Lord, “Please let today be a good day. Take away the trouble. Only You can do this!”
And then the day would begin with all its grief, pain and isolation.
Finally, one day I found myself praying, “Lord, no matter what this day brings, I know You are sovereign, and I ask You to give me the strength to endure it and the ability to extend grace, just as You have done with me.”
There it was ~ a new prayer. Thank goodness He didn’t change my day…He changed my prayer.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
