The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, save me!” ………Psalm 116:3-4
Recently, I had the wonderful privilege of working with a woman the same age as myself who found herself in a crisis pregnancy. I remember the call that came in as if it were just yesterday. The voice on the other end was one stricken with sorrow, fear, anguish and confusion about what the future held. As we talked, I was glad to hear that she was calling me from a local pregnancy resource center and had already started the process of choosing life for her baby.
I remember being in a constant state of prayer throughout our time of speaking with one another; her phone kept going dead as she was on her cell phone, but God was so good to keep us connected throughout the day and soon allowed us to meet. As I began working with her on a plan for this child, I soon came to the understanding that this was a divine appointment and God had something big planned for her life.
Cathy shared with me many issues of her life; depression, bi-polar, alcoholism and suicidal tendencies along with other life issues that kept her in bondage. Just the night before I spoke with her, she had contemplated suicide and God intervened in her life.
Our first days of getting to know one another was one of her building trust and God giving me the ability to share his love and grace with her. We shed a lot of tears and I wanted so much to help her comprehend that no matter what she had done or faced in her life there was one that she could depend on to break the chains of defeat.
So our work was somewhat of a long list and we had much to do, but agreed to face the future of uncertainties walking side by side as I committed to her that I would stride closely beside her as long as she would allow me to. Cathy wanted to pick a family for her baby but she in no way wanted to get to know them. Much to her own amazement, she chose a family, met them, and fell in love with them and their humility toward her.
She knew as soon as she saw them; they were the family for her baby. What was once a desire to just pick a family for this precious little one quickly turned into one of the most beautiful adoptions I have ever experienced. This adoption completely encompassed the full measure of the gift God gives us through adoption. They honored Cathy in their words and actions, from sharing with her their plan for this child to the little things like letting her meet their dogs. Just this small act of kindness showed her a consideration far above measure.
Cathy and I spent many months together and inch by inch I got to experience our Lord slowly break down the wall of defeat in her life. As we walked this journey together it was clear to me that because of this time in her life and this choice she was faced with; God had to pull her from the depths of shame and show her that her value comes from him and him alone. Cathy chose life and that life, God used to save her very own.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, save me!” ………Psalm 116:3-4
Tags: Adoption, God, pregnancy resource center, Psalm 116:3-4
