Today is Friday, November 18th, 2005; Karen's Korner #675

Tomorrow is a big day for our church friends Jeff and Tiffini; their biological daugher Allision, and their foster daughter Michelle. Michelle becomes their 'real' daughter at an area courthouse on Saturday morning. It is 'foster child adoption day' not only for them, but for families across the nation.
 
Michelle is a happy, well-adjusted kindergartener who has lived with the Mericle family since she was 3 1/2 years old. Tiffini tells that Michelle was lying on her bed, looking at some picture books, as 'mom' started sorting some of Michelle's outgrown clothes, making room for clothes would fit the growing child.
 
"I began putting them in a black plastic garbage bag," said Tiffini, who was concerntrating on her task at hand. Tiffini glanced over at the now unhappy three-year-old who had gotten off her bed, thrown herself on to the floor, crying and banging her head on the floor, saying, "I will be good!" and "I'm sorry!", over and over again. 
 
Tiffini said she picked up Michelle and began to console her. After the child was calmed down, Tiffini asked, "Sweetheart, what is wrong?",
 
"Why do I have to leave? Don't you want me anymore?" was Michelle's reply. 
 
Tiffini went on to tell that when Michelle came to live with them, everything she owned fit into and came in a black garbage bag.  "We were her fourth home from the time she was removed from her biological home and was placed in Foster Care at 18 months of age!"
 
For the past three years, she has lived with the Mericles. Beginning tomorow, she doesn't have to think about, worry about, or fear any more moves or black garbage bags ever again! She will be Michelle Hope Mericle (last two names will be new!)
 
If that doesn't ruffle up your tear ducts, I don't know what will!
 
But I thought about us and how we are adopted into God's family! He loves us equal to, or greater than, Tiffini, Jeff, and Allison love Michelle. We didn't do anything to deserve that kind of love, like Michelle didn't and doesn't. Unfortunately, we have some bad memories of our past and all the things we could, would, should have done to please Him. And we still aren't all the things we need to be!!
 
Today is a good day to stop crying and beating our heads against the floor, telling Him, "I am sorry!" "I'll be good! I'll do better!" Today is a good day to jump into His arms and let Him love us! Just because He has a black bag out, putting away some of our outgrown clothes, doesn't mean He doesn't love us and we have to move. We are a part of his 'forever family'.
 
Sort of like Michelle; starting tomorrow! 

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