I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, the youngest of five children, and I loved the Lord. Although I knew the Lord, I still had some insecurity when it came to boys. After graduating from high school, I went to a Christian college to major in missions. But after my high school boyfriend broke up with me, I felt like I wasn’t good enough and was desperate for someone to love me. I got into another relationship and was devastated when I discovered I was pregnant. Because I was at a Christian college, I was scared to tell anyone for fear I would get kicked out of school. I hid my pregnancy as long as I could, but eventually I had to face the truth and confess to my family, my pastor and the administration at my school. My sister reminded me that we had heard about Mercy at a Point of Grace concert, and I decided to apply.
As soon as I walked through the doors at Mercy, I felt loved, and I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. The Lord showed me how to be secure in Him. I went through the six week decision-making process about whether to parent or place my birth daughter. The staff supported and guided me, but I was encouraged to allow the Lord to show me what to do. God showed me that I should place my birth daughter for adoption and that one day she would know how much I loved her. In the end, I found that I didn’t lose a child, I gained a family! I have a wonderful relationship with my birth daughter and her parents are mentors in my life!
When I graduated from Mercy in 2001, I went on to become a full-time missionary. I continue to do mission work, and I especially have a passion for children at risk and in crisis around the world. I’ll be going with a team this summer to Europe to work with refugee children, and I’m so excited! What a joy it is to be a daughter of the most high King, to see His continual redemption take place in my life, and to share that redemption with hurting children all over the globe!
God continues to bless my relationship with my birth daughter and her family. When I got married in 2014 to an amazing man of God, it was special to have my birth daughter in our wedding. One of the many highlights from our big day was my husband dancing with my birth daughter. It was such a picture, all over again, of God’s redemption!
A year later, I was able to return with my birth daughter and her family to the exact place at the Mercy home where God had spoken to me about placing her for adoption. I got to tell her the story, again, of how God showed me through Psalms 139 that He planned her life even before she was in my womb. I reminded her that she was first and always a child of God and that she was born and created with purpose. We ended our time at the Mercy home finding her baby picture on the wall among the countless other photos of beautiful babies. That day will stay in my heart forever. God has brought so much redemption in my story. Only He would – 15 years later – bless me with an amazing husband and another baby girl on the way, after placing my birth daughter for adoption all those years ago.
God has brought so much redemption in my story. Only He would – 15 years later – bless me with an amazing husband and another baby girl on the way, after placing my birth daughter for adoption all those years ago.