A few weeks ago, we finally received our Letter Seeking Confirmation (also known as a Letter of Approval) for our sweet girl. This is China’s official letter approving us to adopt our daughter. This one simple piece of paper determines that she will no longer be an orphan. Physically checking “YES”, that we 100% accepted her and will love her as our own was emotional and overwhelming but nothing prepared me for seeing this one little word listed under name.
foundling
I often think of her as orphan. A child without parents.
But her true identity is that of a foundling. I am not sure how or why that word seems so powerful to me. Even more powerful than the word orphan but there is something about seeing it in print that just left me breathless.
As I processed this small bit of her story and it’s impact on my heart, I subconsciously starting singing Amazing Grace in my head. I didn’t even realize the message He was sending until I had finished the verse….. but now I am found.
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
T’was blind but now I see
Our sweet daughter is no longer lost. She is found and even though we have yet to hold her in our arms, her name is known and there is a beginning to her redemption story.
It was absolutely not God’s plan for Lydia to spend her life separated from her biological family. Just as it is not God’s plan for us to spend our lives separate from Him. Regardless of her situation, He intended for her to remain in her home, in China, in her family. But sadly our world is full of wrongs and evils. Our paths are not always what He wants for us but because He loves us, he can write each of us a new story. He can turn those things that are intended for evil into something beautiful.
Our God found her. He didn’t choose her for us but He made it possible for us to find her. He prepared our hearts for her. He loved her before we knew her and He is giving us the greatest gift of being her parents.
It is going to be a long and difficult journey, one in which I suspect we will all feel lost at times but I am thankful that I know I can hold faithfully to His amazing grace.
Because I too was once lost…