When our first adoption match failed, I was mad. Really, really mad at God.
It’s not that I think I’m some entitled person who should never have any hardship. But God had specifically spoken to both Chris and I that we were to pursue that match. Even when our very wise Adoption Consultant cautioned us against it, we didn’t feel released to back out.
So I was angry. Because God made me walk down a path that He knew would end in pain. I didn’t have a road-map for that kind of God. It’s not a side of Him that is usually talked about on Sunday mornings. He’s scary.
In 2 Samuel 6:1-9, David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He was doing it to honor the Lord. As they were traveling and worshiping, the Ark almost tipped, so one guy put his hand up to steady it. And God killed him. For doing what seemed like the right thing.
It says David was angry with the Lord. And it says David feared the Lord. I think he was angry and afraid because he didn’t have parameters for that kind of God.
Because God is beyond us.
He does things in a way we never would. His methods of being good are different than our ideas of goodness. But He IS good.
At the end, that was the only place I could land. God’s goodness was different than mine, but I had to trust that He is good. Reading the Psalms that David wrote, I think that’s where he always landed too.
A month and a half after the first mom decided to parent her baby, we found out about another situation. A situation where all the pieces fell into perfect order.
We were matched with an expectant mom who was due in only a few weeks. We loved her from the moment we talked with her on the phone. She was steadfast and committed to her adoption plan. We all became like family.
When the baby was born, she included us in every step of the process. We were amazed at how beautiful the experience was and were so honored to share it with her.
After 5 days, papers were signed and Enoch Irvin Warrior Davis was our son.
None of that beautiful story would have been ours if the first match had happened according to the plan.
I can’t necessarily say it all makes sense, even now. But I am convinced that God’s goodness led us to where we are today. The path was twisted, hard and confusing, but I can rest that He led us.
And that’s all I really need to know.