One of my ways of chilling at the end of a day is to watch a few things on You Tube. My latest has been episodes of Long Lost Family. These are stories of people who usually were adopted or who gave a child up for adoption and who many years later look to find them.
I was particularly struck my a beautiful young woman who set out to find her father. Her parents had met in France as young people. They soon were in a relationship and the young woman fell pregnant. The man was only about 17 or 18 and he advised his girlfriend to terminate the pregnancy. She wouldn’t, so she left France and returned to her home country of the UK. A baby girl was born. While her mom gave her her surname, at the registration, on the spur of the moment, she registered her daughter, Louise, in the surname of her father – a French name. As Louise grew up, her mother told her as much as she could about her dad. She included the fact that he wanted to terminate the pregnancy. This didn’t deter Louise from looking for her father.
Eventually, after not being able to find him, she contacted Long Lost Family and got the ball rolling to find him. Here’s the episode…the story of two families are on this…
As I watched it, it just reminded me of the deep desire we all have to belong.
Louise’s dad never had any other children and ended up living in the French Alps on his own. He seemed happy that way, yet finding his long lost daughter, who he once suggested be aborted, moved him. What moved him even more was the discovery that Louise had a 4 year old son. It was then the tears flowed.
We all have a need to belong. As I watch these episodes, it makes me more and more grateful for my amazing family. For amazing Mike, to start with. The Lord bought us together and I am so very grateful for the almost 31 years of marriage. For Stacey and Adrian and David and all their future families. For my brother Julian and his daughter Jess and her husband Gerrie and their future families. For my sister Anne and her son, Darryl and their future families. For Mike’s sister, Monica and her sons. Some I don’t see much of but we are all connected and time is going to pass. Everyone is growing up and getting older and the next generation is making lives for themselves.
#282 of my 1000 thanks has to be for family and the genes that bind us together – that give us a common bond and a sense of belonging.
I belong.
Not only do I belong to those that share my gene pool. I also belong to a wonderful group of friends.
Ephesians 2:19
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household…
Even if you journey through this life unconnected to a gene pool, you will always have a connection with other children of God.
Appreciate each member of your family, whether it’s blood family or not.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂