Specially Marked

I have three birthmarks and my mom always said I must be extra, extra special since my two siblings don’t have a single one!  This helped me be less self-conscious of the spots, and I never thought much of them my entire life until recently.  Twelve years ago my husband and I were just dating when I told him that God had convicted me that part of His plan for my life was to foster parent and/or adopt.  After a decade of marriage we began the process of waiting for “the call.” After the first year of waiting, I did some serious praying and then near the second year mark, I began to wonder if this was really what God wanted for our family. After all, I could have another baby or finance a private adoption.  We had been praying for the protection of our future child, and for discernment to know when to say yes.  God never let go of me on my core belief that in the state system there are many children that just need a chance and lots of love in a healthy family.  Over the years, God sent my husband and I and our boys many adopted children and orphans that we have loved and enjoyed building relationships with before and during our wait that gave us much encouragement and compassion for adoption. I was really wondering if there was a child “in the system” that could fit our family’s parameters though.  During the second year, God worked on us about accepting more risks than we originally thought and about taking a child that was older. I am so glad he did.  We also brought the boys in on praying for a child to love that needs a family during our family devotions that second year.    About one month before my two year deadline I had given God (Yes, I am ashamed of myself…but oh so human and weak that he loved me enough to respond to my desperation.), I had a good cry with our small group and asked them to pray.  Then, only two days later THE call came.  Our life group must have really prayed!  She was a two and a half year old that had been in foster care her entire life.  She had been in a loving Christian foster home with folks we now love and adore!   We said, “Yes!”  Only a few weeks after that meeting, she was in our home and relishing every new opportunity on our farm.  The answer to our prayers was praying with us and FOR us.  It was incredible!  She seemed destined for two brothers.  I already felt so much confirmation of our decision to love her forever since her transition to our family was really quite natural for us all.  But, God was not done with teaching me that he’d had things under control.  Only about two weeks after her adoption day, I was snuggling with her after nap when I noticed it.  Two of my birthmarks are small spots just above each knee.    As it turns out, she now has one above her left knee in the exact location of mine.  I don’t know when it came up, but I had never seen it before.  I cannot help but think that God was clearly telling me that though she was not my biological child that even before she was formed set her apart (Jeremiah 1:5).  He had marked her special just for me, and I knew her frame was not hidden from Him (Psalm 139).  Great is His faithfulness!