CHOSEN

Perhaps you have a special personal story of delight and surprise.  Like any woman, my age is neither posted at the local post office nor on Facebook.  In case you are curious, I am older than some and younger than others, and a physician would likely be informing me that I needn’t worry about birth control at this point.  So … that’s the extent of my conversation in this delicate area.

My husband and I have been married for a good number of years.  Most people, when you are first introduced, either ask “what do you do for a living,” or “do you have any children?”

With my personality, I’m tempted to respond to the first inquiry by responding, “I do lots of things while I’m living, and most of them don’t bring in an income.”  And in response to the second question, I sometimes feel an emotional tear that’s anxious to express itself.

Though we don’t have any children of our own, we do have lots of other peoples’ children.  People often break into a laugh, and are stuck for further conversation.  I suppose most people assume that everyone has children … but that is not always true.

Every life is different and holds a different plan. Some have the “gift of singleness.”  Some have the “gift of marriage and children.”  Some have the “gift of loving other peoples’ children.”  Whatever the plan, it’s orchestrated for God’s purposes and building His family here on earth.

One day I was prompted to attend a Bible Study.  I had never been to this group before, so everyone was new to me.  Upon entering the room, I noticed a woman in a wheelchair sitting alone, though there were women gathering around and sitting at various tables. That’s the table I chose, and ever-so-slowly a few women began to move to our table.   

Soon all the chairs were taken, and I observed that, except for this woman in the wheelchair and me, all the other women were Asian.  I love Asian women!

There was one particular young Chinese gal to whom I was inescapably drawn.  She seemed quiet and gentle.  After our study time together, we all left and went to our individual homes.  The following week she again sat at my table.  There was a spark in my heart for her.  I smiled at her whenever possible.  She shared that she felt her attempts at English were insufficient and she often felt awkward. 

In my eyes, she was delightful and I had no problem at all understanding her pronunciations. 

I continued to observe this sweet gal, and about the third week, I took the plunge and asked her if she would enjoy coming to my home for a latte one morning.  To my delight, she accepted.  We chose a date later that week.

I was a little nervous in having her over as I can sometimes struggle for conversation.  My desire to get to know this sweetheart of a gal was greater than my apprehension.

She had short hair, tastefully designed around her face; and she had the most beautiful dark brown eyes that just seemed to sparkle when she spoke.

The morning arrived!  The espresso machine all warmed up and ready for its next latte brew for my new Chinese friend-to-be.  I greeted her with open arms at the front door, and it seemed that we both relaxed immediately while greeting each other.   

Using the espresso machine was my first attempt at “entertaining” my guest.  Soon we both ventured to our little living room, a cozy setting with the lights on and ready to host this new relationship.

I can’t remember what all we talked about, but somewhere in the conversation that morning, I asked if she was nervous at being invited to my home.  She answered immediately, “Yes!”  You see, she had never been invited to a Westerner’s home.

I shared my thoughts about meeting her for the first time at this Bible study and how drawn I was to her.  I also encouraged her for her exceptional grasp of English.  We talked non-stop for about two hours.  It was time for her to return to her routine at home, but it wouldn’t be the last time in my home … or in my heart.

Before long, my new friend invited me to her place.  It seemed our friendship just took off … to wonderful places.

She and her daughter had moved to Canada from China.  Her husband’s employment in China prevented him from joining his family permanently for a few years.  As you can only imagine, the impact of being in a new country and strange and foreign culture was huge.  She had been encouraged to learn English while growing up in China, but the greater adjustment was depending on and adjusting to a new language and culture with no real support. 

She and I chatted about all these changes and adjustments on a regular basis.  I too had moved a few times to a different country and culture.  I could understand, in many personal ways, the pain of homesickness, insecurity, and a sense of not belonging.  Having to find new doctors, dentist, shopping and the process of making friendships all presented a tremendous emotions burden on her.  I wanted to relate to both relate to, and encourage her in journey.

Months after our friendship was established, she and her daughter flew back to China to visit her husband and parents.  It was then that she realized God had provided her friends – my husband and me – in Canada who missed her and longed for her return.

Here’s where the “delightful surprise” began to emerge.  Soon after her return, and to my delight and surprise, she opened up to me about what she was feeling in her heart toward my husband and me.   She shared with me that for the first time she felt as though she had family that missed her presence when she left for her trip overseas.

She then asked if I would become her Canadian Mom!  Usually in adoption settings, it’s the parents who choose a child, but she wanted to “adopt” us.  This “creative adoption” was in reverse, she chose us, and you cannot imagine how thrilled and honored we were.  

From that day forward, she never called me by my first name, but called me “Mom.” 

I melt inside each time she uses the term Mom when talking with me.  Never in my wildest imagination could I have foreseen this God-directed, unique type of adoption for me; and I couldn’t be more pleased.

For those of you that are a mom or a dad to someone, never forget the tenderness in the heart of someone who addresses you with that beautiful reference of love and relationship.

Oh, and just a reminder that God is equally thrilled for you to call Him, “Father.”