I sit at my computer with my warm, maple-ginger tea steeping, a cup of spicy trail mix and the sound of the cold wind blowing wildly outside, and I think back on this past year.
It was just over a year ago. “Wednesday’s Place” had been published for a couple months. After years of struggling with rejection, I was finally feeling content with just being a “Child of God” and not knowing my heritage or my biological family’s story.
This would all change on January 6, 6:07 a.m. when I received an e-mail saying my DNA results were ready. My heart was beating fast; I held my breath as I looked on the website and saw my DNA Story. In big letters at the top of the screen it read “Parent / Child”. My world changed in a second. I was now connected to people. I had a history. In the next couple months I would talk to new family members and see lots of pictures. I had always wondered who I looked like. I could now see where I got my eyes and nose from.
You would think after I found my long lost biological family, I would be content, my puzzle complete. This new information stirred up many feelings, questions, and insecurities that I had to work through this past year. It opened up a whole new chapter of a book that I thought was already written.
I have so much more respect for my adopted parents. They did not have to love me, but they chose to love me with all of their hearts.
You could say the same about God, He did not have to love us, but He does!
Through this experience, I had to learn how to change my mindset. For my whole life, up to that moment, there was just me, “the Rent a Kid” and now there was this new, big family that I instantly cared about. It is amazing how you can meet someone for the first time and have a sincere connection. It has been overwhelming, and I am so thankful.
I am thankful to have found the missing puzzle pieces to my story. Through this past year I have had to think about my place and purpose in this world, my childhood and all the people who are apart of my life.
I have learned that my past, bloodline or last name does not define who I am.
My relationship with God does. I look at my life as a journey. The people God has placed in my life and the challenges I have endured have made me who I am. I would not have the compassion and desire to help others if it was not for the challenges I faced on my journey. I would not have reached out to Jesus. I would not have learned how good God is. I would not have experienced the power of God’s love.
I am now full circle. I sit here a year later knowing my DNA history and say proudly “I am a Child of God.”
Laura Daigle song “You Say” became very popular this past year. Wow what powerful words to live by! I encourage you to listen to this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI
I choose to believe what God says:
God says I am loved
4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). Ephesians 2:4-5 AMP
God says I am strong
‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;
I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ Isaiah 41:10 AMP
God says I am His
5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— Ephesians 1:5 AMP
As you look back on this past year and try to keep the goals you have set for this new year; I encourage you to look deeper. What defines you?
I challenge you to investigate God’s love for you. He loves us so much and only wants to be a part of our lives. Who knows, He might be the missing piece of your puzzle!