Found Abandoned.
Two words and yet practically everything we know about our daughter’s past. Not found abandoned with instructions attached. Not found abandoned with a letter describing life conditions too harsh to raise a child. Not found abandoned with a letter stating how much he or she really loved this child yet was unable to provide for her. Not found abandoned with a piece DNA material attached to help us locate any family member that may be living. The only information we have about our daughter’s past are those two words, along with a police statement, a few statements from witnesses, and the location of her abandonment. On a hopeful note, the location of Sassy’s abandonment suggests that the person ‘dropping her off’ knew what they were doing and wanted her to be adopted.
Left to my imagination, coupled with life conditions we witnessed when traveling and what I have come to learn about our daughter’s personality, I suspect that someone loved her very much. Sassy’s ability to give and receive love demonstrates either a strong attachment to a previous caregiver or a fierce resilience and determined spirit. I suspect there was either a death in the family or life conditions that warranted making the most difficult decision of one’s lifetime. I suspect someone is still out there wondering if Sassy made it home and I wish I could just pick up the phone and let him or her know she has arrived, is thriving, and that all is well…except that huge gaping hole. Who are you? Where are you? Does she have sisters or brothers? Why didn’t you just go into the police station? Why didn’t you provide more information?
Years from now when Sassy starts asking questions, I hope my answers and the love of our family are enough to make her feel secure and confident; although I know they will not be sufficient. Nothing our family can give her will ever fill that gaping hole. An information hole and probably a hole in her heart. Thankfully, our God is bigger than any life circumstance. He can fill any hole, heal any hurt, and provide a peace of mind that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When the time comes to discuss her past, I am confident God will provide the right words and give our family direction. He always does. At this point in time, I do not know what that will look like, but I trust that it will happen when the time is right. Day by day, month by month, year by year, as we shower Sassy with our love, teach her about our faith in Christ, and parent all of our children to the best of our abilities, we pray that God is working from within. That He is behind the scenes, building the foundation, and instilling faith and confidence. Our God is the God of all things seen and all things unseen. Although the trials of this life may never make sense to me while walking the earth, I earnestly believe Romans 8:28 when it says God causes everything to work together for the good of those who Him and are called according to His purpose for them.
In my opinion, Isaiah (who prophesied approximately 720-780 years before the birth of Christ), has some of the most beautiful, poetic, and profound statements in the entire Bible. I will close this post with Isaiah 40:28-31. A message of power, hope, confidence, and faith. The passage states, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Oh, and let us not forget…God has found each and every one of us abandoned. So, while we may not have a police report documenting the conditions surrounding our abandonment, our hearts each have their own story. Found abandoned has nothing on our living God!
