In December 2004 my husband and I traveled to Ethiopia to meet our first child, a daughter, and bring her home. For me the trip was full of anxiety-producing circumstances. I had a fear of flying, I’m a poor traveler even within the U.S., I have motion sickness . . . oh, and did I mention that I’m the biggest chicken that ever lived?!
That trip was filled with memories that will never fade, but I want to share just one with you for now.
We arrived in Ethiopia around midnight on Sunday night. Our travel group was scheduled to go to the care center first thing on Monday morning to meet our children for the first time. I carried with me many of the fears that many adoptive moms have, especially those that are first-time moms. Will I be able to love this child once I meet her? Will this child love me? Will we bond and attach? Will I know what to do when she cries? Will I know what/how to feed her? What if she gets sick?
I had spent a lot of time in the weeks and months leading up to this momentous meeting asking God to provide a sign that everything would be alright. I asked Him to provide me with a sense of calm and wisdom. And, that’s what He did!
We walked into the room where all of our babies stayed. At first, I didn’t see her because she was facing away from me. My husband pointed her out to me, and I asked the nanny, "is that Yeabsira?" The nanny said "yes," and I fumbled across the room to hold our daughter for the first time!
The nanny placed her in my arms, and Yeabsira looked directly into my eyes and gave me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen! One of the other moms noticed this first meeting and said "wow, look at her smile at her mommy!" Another mom said, "she’s smiling because God wrote her mommy’s face on her heart!" WOW! I had asked for a sign, but this was so much better than anything I could have ever imagined!
Ephesians 3:20-21
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
