An Extraordinary Love Story

By Linda Waterman

Donna came to the front after I finished speaking at a Women’s Conference in  Naples, FL. She handed me a handwritten letter written on hotel stationery.

That morning my message focused on a love that exceeds anything we can imagine. We may believe in God’s love with our minds but struggle to embrace it with our hearts. God’s unconditional love surpasses all our inadequacies, mistakes, and failures. He knows us with all our “issues,” and loves us completely.

Donna adopted a baby with disabilities. She told me, “Every day he lives is a miracle.” Here is her story…

I thought I should try to write this down for you. As we read the verses about being the adopted children of a compassionate, loving God, I was overwhelmed with a truth in my life that I had never seen before.

When I adopted Tyler, I knew full well his deficits and handicaps- I was given his worst-case prognosis.

Armed with this knowledge, a great love for him, and the realization that his weaknesses and handicaps are beyond his control (a part of his nature as it were), I have not ever focused on what he lacks or where he fails. I’m ready for that. I anticipate failure or lack; it is natural for him in his condition.

But when he accomplishes something…when he makes strides in development or communication, oh how I rejoice! I weep for joy over the smallest little move forward, with rarely a thought for the areas that are still at a standstill.

And I realized that is how God sees me. He’s not sitting there inspecting and waiting for all the little failures or standstills. He comes into this relationship fully aware that failure and lack of development would be the norm for me.

But oh, how He does rejoice when I make the tiniest step forward! How He is touched when I overcome the handicap of being a sinner.

And in between the growth, we just coast along, no condemnation, just waiting patiently for the next little bit of progress. And sliding back, well, all disabled people do that but given enough time they level out. You don’t expect them to do it all at once!

And lastly, when you adopt a disabled child, you can enter the relationship with no personal baggage or guilt. You can discipline with impunity-you don’t have to compensate because some fault in you made them that way. And you can love and encourage with abandon, knowing that every time you facilitate them, help them, encourage them, or teach them, you do it purely as an act of love towards them,  not stemming from any personal guilt or remorse over their condition.  – Donna Barneau

When we sin and fall short of God’s glory, as believers in Jesus, isn’t it wonderful He promises complete forgiveness when we repent and turn from our sin? Isn’t it a gift to know though that He is not surprised or appalled? As our Creator, He knows we are merely human and responds with His supernatural love, mercy, and grace.

Joyful Valentine’s Day TO ALL. May you celebrate HIS AMAZING LOVE!