a table for nine

Since the summer, we have had the joy of sharing the campus with an extraordinary family.  In the eyes of the world, there truly is nothing ordinary about them.  A young single woman who has adopted seven children and in the process of adopting more.  Oh, here is something so powerful to watch someone surrender all, to joyous give all to Jesus.  To be used by Him in ways unimaginable.  Below is a story written by one of Heather's young daughters.  I remember hearing her read it herself over the summer.  And to this day, I'm not sure if there is something that else that I could point to so definitely as life-changing as that morning when I heard those women share.  May we be a people who always have a 'yes' upon our lips to what the Lord is calling us to do.

 a table for nine

I will never forget the day I first came to my adoptive family. My mother told us she was taking us to a fancy restaurant for a “family night.” I remember walking into this classy restaurant and hearing my mother say,"A TABLE FOR NINE" please. I was a bit confused because I counted and there was only seven adopted kids plus one single momma. I had heard my new mom was a bit eccentric, so I just thought this was one of her moments. Shouldn't we of gotten a table for eight I thought to myself? I recounted all of us and was just confused. As we all sat down, my mom saved a place for someone right next to her. I began looking around wondering who in the world was meeting us for dinner. Who was joining us for "Our Family Night?" At the time I was too scared to even talk, so I just sat there curiously wondering and expecting someone to join us for dinner. My mother began to order and smile and carry on as if nothing was wrong. She began to seriously get on my nerves, and then I couldn't take it anymore. I had to find out who she was saving the seat for.

I will never forget the words that came out of her mouth. "Kids, I want to introduce you to your father." "I have invited him to dinner with us tonight, and would like to tell you all about him." I was shocked. I thought that my new adopted mother was single!? I quickly glance back at the door expecting a man to walk in. I was stunned, as my mother began to talk about a man who would never leave us or forsake us. She talked about His heart and who His character was. She began to describe how he saved her life, and began to tell us all about him. She said she would like to introduce Him to us. I will never forget that moment. The tears just fell from my eyes. I had become so numb and this was the first time I could even feel again. As she began to describe who He was, I felt as if I had already met him. It was a familiar feeling. I can't describe it, but there were many and I mean many nights where I lay bleeding and in pain where I felt His presence. I wanted to die so the pain would stop. When I say pain I mean severe pain. My body was used as a chopping block or a cutting board. I not only felt physical pain as my biological parents would do horrors to me, but I felt such deep heart pain. There were many nights I felt as if someone was carrying me, keeping me warm, and whispering into my ear words of hope. I then realized as my mother began to describe this person who she saved a seat for and claimed to be my father, it was the same person who held me, wiped my tears, and mended my open wounds. That night in a restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma I met a man that has forever changed my life.

This man has truly healed me. He is my father and my Doctor. With tears I accepted Jesus into my heart that night. I will never forget the evening when God came to dinner with us, and I officially met him. I will never forget the prayer and tears streaming down my newly adoptive mother's face as she introduced us to the man that had once healed her as well. I will never forget the embrace I got, I never wanted my mom to let go. I didn't just feel her arms around me but God's arms. When she prayed over me and cried over me I promise you this, I saw my father God in her eyes. I didn’t just get adopted by a new family, I got adopted by a father who knows how many hairs are upon my head.

To think that I was once the abused child whose story was plastered all over national television. I will never forget the day my caseworker told my mom not to adopt me because I was too old, too much work, and too sick. I will never forget turning on the news and hearing the reporter say that I had one of the most severe cases of sexual abuse she had ever heard of where the child actually lived. I remember listening to my teacher as she told my mom I was considered mentally retarded because I couldn’t read or write at age eleven. I remember listening to my foster parents whisper about how “homely” looking I was and how messed up my body and teeth are. I remember at school how my peers would tell me they weren’t allowed to play with me because they were afraid to catch some disease or that I would hurt them. I write this to say that God still performs signs, wonders, and miracles. I am now a daughter of a King. I was once lost but now I am found. I was ashes turned into beauty. I was once damaged and broken and now restored and whole. God is reaching His hands out to you today. He has seen your tears, he has cried with you. Let him heal and restore you today. I will never forget the day when my mom said the words, “ A table for nine,” please.