Isn't it funny how you go about your life, never thinking about how many people you touch or affect? Our Sunday School teacher talked about it a bit a few weeks ago, how what we do in our lifetime has ripple effects far into the future, to our children, grandchildren and so on. It does give me a reason to sit and ponder each decision of my life in a different way. Will I one day have to sit and explain to a grandchild why this happened or that happened because of something I did in 2009? A terrifying thought, for me anyway.
I look back at my own life, at how the decisions my parents made established my life and the people and places that make up my past. I shake a little inside at the thought that I have that same effect on my child.
Yesterday, through a series of emails I discovered how something in my past, connected me directly to someone in my present. I saw how a decision my husband and I made in the Spring of 2003, a decision that resulted in the successful, open adoption of our daughter in 2004, impacted the lives of a couple in the Fall of 2004 and helped open a gateway for their family to grow by adoption.
The details of the story are far too personal to put out here for the world, so let's just say it caused me to realize once again how the things I do and say everyday impact others, now and ultimately in the future. It caused me to think "what if?". What if, we had said something or done something differently, what if we had been greedy or closed off, what if we had not decided to risk loving someone we had never met, one move on our part could have made a huge difference in the outcome and been a big negative on the receiver's end. I know I am not speaking clearly, especially if you don't know all the back story -- but I am thankful that at least this one time in our lives we were wise, were risk-takers, were loving and generous and this one time, we saw God's hand as it moved on our life, the life of our daughter, and her birthfamily.
Yesterday afternoon in my kitchen, sitting at my laptop, I saw how that same Hand had moved over another family and brought them the same type of love and joy we have experienced, in part due to our experience. It was chilling. I had to share it with you all, even if you don't have the details.
What is the point of the post? Just this, we never know whose lives we are touching, we may never know. So treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. Be kind, be generous, be loving, be REAL. It is amazing how it can come back to you, in ways you will never be able to imagine.
Living Happily In the Moment!
Bev
2 comments:
Isn't it just amazing! Yesterday was one of those days that I will remember for awhile - so many things connecting - wow! And oh yes- we will meet for sure- hopefully soon! I have a feeling we have lots to talk about!
Wow. What a privilege and an honor to be part of someone's adoption journey like that.
I had a similar experience. Recently, I met someone from our agency that told us that they chose to investigate the special needs list because of the journey they followed when we had that first referral that failed and how God worked it all out. When they saw Li'l Empress on the blog on our "gotcha day" they turned in their SN application.
What an honor to be used that way. And what a pay off for being obedient to the voice of the Lord! Isn't God cool? And aren't we blessed?
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