“We plan our path but the Lord guides our steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9
When Charles and Serena married,
they’d already planned their future. He would finish his engineering degrees in
two years, then she would get pregnant. They would name their baby Michael or
Michelle.
Ten years passed and no child came. It was a decade of
roller-coaster rides through a false pregnancy, infertility tests, and enviously
watching friends and siblings having children. Despite feeling impatient and frustrated,
they continued hoping and praying that God would bless them with the child they
so desperately wanted.
They’d considered adoption, but worried about finances, long waits, and family acceptance. After
prayerful discernment, the couple attended a class for prospective adoptee
parents. Every Monday evening for 10 weeks they took parenting classes. At home,
they prepared placed bottles of baby lotion and powder beside bibs and colorful
stuffed animals.
Within just a few weeks, they received a call to meet with a
five-month-pregnant birth mother. They drove 300 miles and met with the woman
twice before she lost contact with the agency altogether. It nearly broke their
hearts.
Their next opportunity came 4 months later. They flew to New
Orleans and met the birth parents in the hospital the night before mom’s
C-section. They were instantly enchanted, cuddling and bonding with the
newborn, anxious to return home and begin their new life as a family.
Despite the unusual challenges of their adoption processes, Serena
and Charles managed to stay positive and committed to their adoption journey.
That’s not to say they didn’t find it difficult at times but they leaned on
each and refused to downgrade their expectations. It would happen - just
perhaps not on their own timeline.
Seven months later the
caseworker called and told them about an eight-month-old baby girl. She invited
them to read her file. “If you like what you read, you’[ meet
her foster parents next week,” she said enthusiastically.
Within a week they said
“YES!!!”and three days of visitation began. “Her name is Arija Michelle,” her
foster mom explained. “But my kids struggled saying Arija so we’ve always
called her Michelle.”
After over 11 futile years, it became
so very clear why they’d never had success ... that precious little girl with
Down’s Syndrome was undoubtedly meant to be their daughter. “She just “fit!” If
their love for her had a color … it was the whole rainbow.
Serena looked into her precious daughter’s
eyes. The sweet child smiled and reached out her arms. Serena thought her heart
would burst with joy. Their Michelle had arrived. After so many years God had
indeed sent the baby they wanted.
Heavenly Father, thank you for Michelle,
whom You have lovingly and wonderfully created. We submit all our personal
expectations and aspirations for her at Your feet and ask for the wisdom to
raise her in Your image, and not our own. Amen
