Miracle

Have you ever been a witness to a miracle? Been amazed at how something beautiful came from a tragic situation?

This afternoon our family was invited to a celebration - an adoption party for 2 boys and their awesome Mama and Daddy. These boys were orphaned when their mother died suddenly from diabetes four years ago.

Their mother was a single mom, living in subsidized housing, a regular user of the food bank, struggling with health issues.  Their mother didn't have the easiest of upbringings herself and had been broken in many ways in her lifetime. Their mother was resilient, and doggedly sought the help she needed for herself and her boys. Their mother was my friend, and I, along with my friend Kristal, mentored her for 2 years .

The story is long, and there are many lessons I learned through this friendship - the most uncomfortable and challenging of my life. I have never had a relationship that pushed me deeper in my faith and closer to Jesus than this one. I will write more about it.

In short, 2 precious blue-eyed boys lost their mama, the weekend before kindergarten and grade 3 began. Kristal and I knew this death was coming because of out-of-control diabetes, we spoke of it frankly, and we knew we needed to help their mama make a plan for her boys when the time came. Kristal knew an amazing couple, still childless, but loving children and the big family that surrounded them. Perhaps, we pondered, our friend could meet this couple. Perhaps the man could be a good male role model in these boys lives. Perhaps, when the time came, this couple could be parents to these boys.

And four years ago, the call came... my friend had passed away. The boys were taken into emergency foster care. My friend's family contacted the wonderful couple who attended the boys birthday parties and special events, who built wooden model boats with them and sailed them down the river - and said, "We need to talk to you about taking the boys."

This couple jumped through the hoops to foster the boys, grieved with them at the loss of their mama - and then grieved over losing 3 grandparents within months of their mama's death. They went through the process to adopt the boys and bring them to their forever home.

Today, a BIG celebration took place. This family invited many to come and rejoice with them. It is official. The adoption is completed. The home was filled with love, there were balloons throughout the yard. Mama T stood up to talk with her "New Mom" ribbon pinned on her shirt and said, "Mom upside down is 'WOW'!"  This journey does make one say, "Wow!"

And as my family and I snuck out early, my friend Kristal was there. "You and I have something to do with this, you know." Tears filled my eyes. We saw a lot of sad things, went through a lot of hard things with this mama, but now we are able to witness how God did a marvellous work.

He called us to help this mama, to prepare for a time when she would be gone. He allowed us to introduce these 2 families that are now joined forever as one. He knew 2 boys would be needing an amazing couple to love and parent them. I sat in wonder, amazed at the miracle that I have been witness to.

The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy. 
Psalm 126:3