SECOND ADOPTION

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and
daughters."  says the Lord Almighty.  2 Cor. 6:18

      One morning, during my devotions, the Lord said, "I want you to stop looking upon yourself as an orphan.  I have adopted you into My family.  You are no longer an orphan."  This word from the Lord filled me with renewed joy.  I started singing and praising God.

      Ever since my husband died I've felt that no one cared about me.  When I was adopted by the Halls and taken away from my sister and brother, I spent five lonely years as their servant and mistreated besides.

      Later when I married and my sister found me I was so happy.  But she kept moving away from me again and again, leaving me feeling abandoned.  All my life I have felt abandoned by God. Otherwise, why did so many bad things happen to me?  Surely He didn't care about me, at least, I saw no proof that He knew I existed.

      Then, when my seventeen-year-old daughter was killed in an automobile accident, to me, it was another case of abandonment.  Now, my husband had died and here I am alone and feeling abandoned again.

      I called my friend Shirley this morning and she said, "I can't talk to you right now. I'm getting ready to go to Mary's house with Judi and Erla."  Immediately I felt along and left out.  A terrible feeling swept through my body and I became sick.

      I moaned aloud, "How can I be so full of joy because God said I have been adopted into His family, and an hour later sink into total despair to the point of actual sickness?  How can a conversation with a friend wreak such havoc in my body?"

      My first thought was, I think I'll go back to bed.  Then I remembered that the Lord had also said, "Today I want you to send out some encouraging notes and stories to the people I've put on your heart."  So, after praying for strength, I dragged myself to my desk and began writing the first note to Marlene, thanking her for taking me to the Women's Aglow Retreat.  Then I remembered Georgia, my former daughter-in-law.  I must write to her before I lay down.  Next I thought, I can't forget my granddaughter Theresa, and so on.

      Before I knew it I had written five notes and printed some of my devotional stories to include with the notes.  I glanced at the clock and was amazed to see it was almost noon.  I had notes of encouragement ready to mail to Marlene, Georgia, Barbara, Theresa, and Marcella.

      I again prayed, "Father God, you truly are my Father and You do care about me.  help me believe that I am not an orphan anymore.  I have the best Daddy of all--my heavenly Father!  Take away my doubt and fears and help me turn to You when I feel alone and abandoned."