Girl Wonder loves stories. Old stories, new stories, made-up stories, true stories… stories that don’t unintentionally rhyme.
But the story she loves the most is the story about how she came to be our girl.
Once upon a time Daddy and I decided to have a baby.
We began praying that our Heavenly Father would send you straight from heaven.
But He said, “Not yet.”
I cried. I pouted. I said, “Why not?”
And he said, “I love you. Not yet.”
I begged. I pleaded. I said, “I want to be a mom.”
He said, “So did your sisters, Sarah, Rachael, Rebecca, Hannah… They all had to wait and so do you.”
I said, “That makes me really angry.”
He said, “I still love you.”
I said, “This hurts.”
He said, “I know, but if you let me I will bring you peace.”
I said, “I don’t know if I can. I’m still mad.”
He said, “I’m here when you are ready.”
I cried. I pouted. I said, “I’m not going to talk to you anymore.”
He said, “I’ll miss you.”
I said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
He said, “I know.”
I said, “Please help me. I don’t know how to do this without you.”
He said, “I’m here.”
I said, “I trust you.”
And I gave him my broken heart.
He held it and promised to heal it, in time.
Sometimes I was tired of waiting. Sometimes I took back my broken heart. I tried to carry it myself, but it was too heavy.
He always took it back when I was ready to give it to him.
Five years passed.
One day He told me and Daddy to get ready. You would be coming soon.
He told us that he was carrying another broken heart. One that belonged to your birthmother.
She had prayed. She had cried. She had listened when He told her that you belonged to Him and that He wanted you to be with us.
She said, “That hurts.”
He said, “I know.”
She said, “Thy will be done.”
You were born on a Friday.
It was time for your birthmom to say goodbye.
It hurt. She cried. But her love was stronger than her pain.
We came to the hospital on Sunday. We met with your birthfamily.
We all cried. We all prayed.
The hospital chapel seemed too small to hold so much love and joy and sorrow.
She went home without you but she was not alone. He was with her.
Daddy and I rode the elevator to your floor, but we were not alone. He was with us too.
And then we were all together for the first time.
I said, “I’m your mom.”
Daddy said, “I’m your dad.”
I held you in my arms and we cried. But this time we cried because we were happy.
I prayed.
I said, “You were right. She was worth all the pain.”
And He said, “So are you. Each of my children is. This is love.”
And I wondered and marveled at all He has done for me.
I looked at you and began to tell you a story. An important story. A true story.
A story about love.
“Once upon a time, long ago in a land far away there was a baby born…”
