There is a story that is captivating me right now and perhaps you have heard it. It is the story of a Philadelphia man who has had quite an intriguing life. When he was an infant, his mother decided she could no longer parent him, so she took him to an orphanage in Hawaii. After he was taken to the orphanage, the rest of his biological family began an all-out search for him. Unfortunately, his whereabouts were never revealed and he was for all intents and purposes lost in Hawaii. This man was eventually adopted by a very loving family and he has had a good life. His circumstances always gave him reason to wonder about his past. His curiosity began to manifest in impulses to learn more, so he began looking for any information he could find that might reveal any clue about his heritage.
Those impulses proved fruitful earlier this year when he found a picture of himself on a missing persons website. The pictures included were one of him as an infant (which he immediately recognized) and a picture of himself as experts believe he could look after applying age progression technology. He knew it was him at first glance! As I watched this story, I could not help but think about the poignant line from the hymn, Amazing Grace, that says, “I once was lost but now am found…” Since being found, the man has been reunited with his biological father and introduced to siblings he never knew he had. I can only imagine how dizzying this situation must be, but for him, it is the answer to a prayer. It does not diminish the loving feelings he has for his adoptive family, but it rounds out who he is in ways that only someone who has been through anything similar could understand.
In Jeremiah 1:5, GOD tells the prophet, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…” This is a powerful lesson for all of us to understand, in that we have a Father in Heaven who created us lovingly to be part of His family. As we grow and mature, we come to know a longing that only be filled by GOD. Some have described this by saying we have a GOD-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by the Lord. When we come to realize we were created by GOD and for GOD, then we come to understand a part of our identity that we will only be able to comprehend once we know the true origin of our story.
Your story matters. It does! You were created by GOD and for GOD. Knowing this is an enormous part of what it means to “Be Part of the Miracle;” that your story can help point others to a deeper understanding of GOD’s love and the hope we all can find in Him. You might be fully aware of our earthly origins, but there is a wholeness that can only come in knowing that GOD knows you and that you are set aside for a life lived in Him.
May you ponder this today and think about how your own life might be impacted by the knowledge of GOD’s love. May you think about how your life might be changed if you, too, knew that you once were lost but not are found! May you then use your story to help others realize that they, too, are part of GOD’s miracle!
Those impulses proved fruitful earlier this year when he found a picture of himself on a missing persons website. The pictures included were one of him as an infant (which he immediately recognized) and a picture of himself as experts believe he could look after applying age progression technology. He knew it was him at first glance! As I watched this story, I could not help but think about the poignant line from the hymn, Amazing Grace, that says, “I once was lost but now am found…” Since being found, the man has been reunited with his biological father and introduced to siblings he never knew he had. I can only imagine how dizzying this situation must be, but for him, it is the answer to a prayer. It does not diminish the loving feelings he has for his adoptive family, but it rounds out who he is in ways that only someone who has been through anything similar could understand.
In Jeremiah 1:5, GOD tells the prophet, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…” This is a powerful lesson for all of us to understand, in that we have a Father in Heaven who created us lovingly to be part of His family. As we grow and mature, we come to know a longing that only be filled by GOD. Some have described this by saying we have a GOD-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by the Lord. When we come to realize we were created by GOD and for GOD, then we come to understand a part of our identity that we will only be able to comprehend once we know the true origin of our story.
Your story matters. It does! You were created by GOD and for GOD. Knowing this is an enormous part of what it means to “Be Part of the Miracle;” that your story can help point others to a deeper understanding of GOD’s love and the hope we all can find in Him. You might be fully aware of our earthly origins, but there is a wholeness that can only come in knowing that GOD knows you and that you are set aside for a life lived in Him.
May you ponder this today and think about how your own life might be impacted by the knowledge of GOD’s love. May you think about how your life might be changed if you, too, knew that you once were lost but not are found! May you then use your story to help others realize that they, too, are part of GOD’s miracle!
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