“Those who plant seeds of peace will reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:18
Missing your menstrual period, feeling nauseous, or
bloating are common signs of pregnancy. But Madi never considered the
possibility until she saw those two lines on the test strip. And so, the story
of an unplanned pregnancy begins.
Twenty years old,
single, and financially vulnerable, she wasn’t prepared to raise a child. So,
she made the heart-wrenching, selfless choice to give her baby the gift of a
family that could provide a world of love, support, and opportunity.
The adoption would be
a closed one. That meant the identities of both the adoptive and biological
parents were kept confidential.
Seven months later, Madi
gave birth to a boy she named Russell. Fearing only three days to spend with
her infant son before surrendering him to his new family, she held him for 72
hours straight. Madi’s Russell became their Cooper when she handed him over.
For the next week,
grief poured through like a flooding river. Brokenhearted, she bled an ocean of
tears. Her soul felt paper-thin. Madi’s body trembled and weakened. She
wondered if she would ever regain strength enough to weave herself back into the
fabric of normal life again.
For Lisa and David,
thoughts of adoption began in their hearts. It was their only way of becoming parents.
Cooper would soon take center stage in their lives. They wondered about the
woman who had given them such a kind, unselfish gift.
Breaking the norm, the adoptive parents invited Madi into every important moment of Cooper’s young journey. Lisa’s rationale: “You can never have too many people loving you!
For the next several
years, they sent Madi a mountain of pictures and copious details of Cooper’s memorable
milestones. They wanted her to feel comfortable so that a potential meeting could
be seamless.
The two reunited when Cooper
turned seven years old. For her part, Madi taught him how to fish. They’ve been
reeling in the memories ever since.
Cooper said of the unique
arrangement: "I’m blessed beyond words, I got the best of both worlds,
for sure. My parents were always supportive of me meeting my birth Mom,
especially considering I had very little health history. We’re like one big,
happy family now.”
Cooper, now 26, is married
and the father of his own baby boy. Much to Madi’s delight, he named the child
Russell. Madi’s life came full circle as a proud grandmother.
For their generous
acts, Lisa and David were never threatened by the presence of Cooper’s birth mother
in their life. “It proves that when we put walls between ourselves and
others, we create barriers that aren’t necessary. And when we remove those obstacles,
we often find love on the other side," David said.
Lord God, bless all expectant mothers who
are choosing adoption for their child and are willing to place them with a
loving family. Bless, too, all the parents making adoption plans for their special
gift. Give them all Your courage and peace. Amen
