Adopted

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been told that I “know everyone.”  Sometimes, it even seems like it to me.  Today, someone told me I have the “spiritual gift of contacts,” and I laughed because – I just might!  Another friend always says he pictures me like the old time switchboard operators, always plugging people together with others.  I think all of it is true.  I also believe it’s a gift – and a fun one!

Last night I had the opportunity to introduce two of my friends, who for years had each heard all about each other.   So, they had my short, not-very-well-told versions of each of their stories.  But last night I got to hear both of them share all of the details of their stories with each other.

After work, we all went out for dinner – Lebanese food (MY personal favorite!)

I ordered a salad, and we had a plate of soft, warm bread, and one of those big bowls of garlic sauce, and the story telling began!  (I didn’t have a story – so I got to eat most of the garlic sauce!)

Now, for obvious reasons, I can’t go into much detail, but what I can tell you is that each of them has an incredibly amazing adoption story.  One found her family who had given her up for adoption, and the other friend was found by her son, who she had given up for adoption.  Neither of them have stories that belong to me, or are mine to tell – but since I was doing none of the talking, but all of the listening – not only was I able to eat my dinner (they were too busy sharing to eat!) – I also got to just sit and take it all in…   (the stories AND the garlic)…

And, in the process of taking it all in, I realized a few things I already knew, but they became so much more deep and meaningful and profound to me, thanks to my two friends…  (I personally think this is why God wants us to share our stories – they are so encouraging to others!)

Mothers never forget their babies’ birthdays, and they never forget what their lips looked like, or their eyes, or their hair, or their smell…    and year after year, they remember.  They ALWAYS remember.

There are some amazing people in the world, and I believe some of them adopt children, and others allow someone else to raise and love them.  Both are incredible human beings.

God brings people together (sometimes, through simple people with the spiritual gift of contacts, like me!) to ENCOURAGE one another.  How fun!

All of your heartaches can be healed.  Yes, they can.

Time is a gift.

People who meet for the very first time, can connect in ways the rest of us might never be able to, and they can share tears of joy and healing we can’t even scratch the surface of beginning to understand.

I work until 5 p.m. these days, and I think I’m pretty clever at finding fun ways and interesting people to spend my time with.  Last night was a gift to me that I don’t ever want to forget, and these are stories I don’t want to stop pondering because it reminds me of what an amazing thing God did when He adopted me!  And I hope you ponder it too.