For the most part this is an easy question to answer. It would be good for you to reread week two where I shared about happy times in my life and how I view happiness. This does give me a chance to expand on one of those happy, memorable days for me.

    In week two, I shared about the adoption of your mother. This week is a great opportunity to share a little more about this period in our family’s life. After about 3-4 years of trying to get pregnant, we also began to pursue adoption as a means of having a child. Her adoption was the culminations of over 6 years of hoping to have a child in our life.

    Adoption is a tedious process. It requires a lot of paperwork and attention to detail as well as a lot of waiting and hoping. So, when your mother was born on February 13, 1991, we were starting a process which would change our life forever and would be the start of a lot of great memories. Actually, without that process, I would not be writing these notes!

    When your mother was released from the hospital, your grandmother and I were waiting in the office of our attorney who had arranged and facilitated the adoption. As we sat there, our anticipation and excitement were growing. A knock came on the door and the attorney’s assistant entered with a beautiful baby girl bundled in a pink blanket. We stood as she entered the room, and she placed her in my arms. The rest of the day was quite a blur. We were surrounded by family and friends who would help us celebrate and begin our great adventure. My father was there that day as well as Sassy’s parents and all of her family. It was a day we will remember and celebrate forever!

    It may have been later in the day or possibly a few years later when I remembered an interesting thing about it which has some great significance in my life. Your mother was placed in my arms first? I don’t think this was intentional. It was probably because I was closest to the door. Over the years I have thought about the irony, I held her first and not your grandmother. She was certainly more qualified to hold a newborn (I am sorry if this is continuing antiquated parenting roles, but in our world, it was the truth)! Though your mother and I share a great bond, she and your grandmother share so much more. Sometimes I am a bit jealous! I was, however, the first to hold her! I know, it’s not a contest! It’s just a happy moment we always will treasure. I would still be happy if your grandmother held her first, but I cherish the moment and I have learned from it!

Your mother was a great gift to us, no matter who held her first. By the way, You are a great gift as well!

    Here are a few things I have learned from that day and hope you will always remember.

    The best gifts are undeserved. I didn’t deserve to hold your mother first. I was the least deserving, but as undeserving as I was, I was given a gift! I didn’t earn it; she was a gift. It is the way God’s love is. There is nothing we could ever do to earn or deserve God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Keep your arms open!
    The best gifts inspire hope! As I have remembered the day throughout my life, having held her first inspired the hope that I might actually be a good father. Remembering the event inspired me to become the best father I could be. Not sure I accomplished it, but Hope increases a person’s confidence and self-belief. It gave me hope! Jesus sacrifice on the cross gives’ humanity hope. God took an amazing risk on humanity! People rejected Jesus and still do, yet God still gave, and Jesus was obedient! The fact God would let his only Son die on a Cross for my sin and brokenness builds hope in me. What a risk God took! His gift still inspires hope in humanity! Keep your arms open!

    The best gifts are eternal! You will receive a lot of gifts in your life. Most, however, will only be temporary. Without that day, you wouldn’t be here! Every event that led to your mother’s adoption has been a part of God’s larger plan and only God knows the final outcome. Don’t settle for the temporary! Keep your eye on the eternal. Always trust God’s eternal plan is probably better than the temporary plan you are making! Keep your arms open!

    Finally, all of Life is a gift. Even unexpected and unplanned things may become your best gifts.
Celebrate the gifts you are given! Celebrate the gifts others receive! Keep your arms open!

-John 3:16 NRSV Updated Edition 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Gee Sprague, September 01, 2022

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