Red Light, Green Light

Last week, we were running late to our weekly homeschool community meeting.

I hate running late. I mean, really....dislike. Loathe. Hashtag - stressful. (I can hear my sister laughing as I type this...)

Even with six children.

My mother drilled into us that being on time was showing respect to others, and I try to teach this to my children. So, you can imagine my delight when just about every single light on our way was green. We arrived with quite a few minutes to spare!

Definitely not a lesson on natural consequences.

As we were coasting through those green lights, my natural instinct was to thank God for the green lights, for His mercy on a mama who deserved to be late (given my need for Starbucks that morning). But, as I was offering my thanks heavenward, I was convicted for the ease with which I showed appreciation. Why, just last week when my kids were in tears because their first soccer game was cancelled because of lightning, I gave a brilliant commentary on one of our Scripture memory verses, I Thessalonians 5:18, which exhorts us to give thanks in all things. I articulately expounded on how we are called to be thankful in all circumstances even if we aren't necessarily thankful for all circumstances.

Clearly I should have listened to my own sermon.

But God in His great goodness then reminded me of all the tremendously painful, yet gloriously life-altering red lights that He had also sent my way. Red lights that altered the course of my life. Red lights for which I am eternally grateful.

You see...each of my six, precious children came to me after a red light, after a clear and resounding "NO" from our Heavenly Father.

After starting and then stopping and then starting again our first adoption journey, I clearly remember submitting our profile in the Fall of 2012 for a precious little baby boy in Texas who I just knew was our son. Except, he wasn't. Oh, how my heart can't even handle thinking about how my life would be without my precious first child. She has been my life's greatest joy! She came only several weeks after that little boy's first mom chose another family. I am eternally grateful to her.

During our next adoption, we hit a low point when we were rejected for a sibling group that prompted us to start the journey of adopting through foster care. You can read about that in more detail here (or just skip to the end here). Once again, God sent a red light.

Finally, our newest addition came after several red lights. First, we got a call to see if we were willing to consider a baby born addicted to opioids, but mom decided to parent. Then, we were notified that our agency had no placements all year, an usual situation for them. We found ourselves having [again] to switch agencies mid-process. Next, we considered taking placement of an infant boy headed to foster care, but God clearly closed that door for us. Ultimately, we got a call in God's perfect timing for the exact baby we needed in our family. His story will come soon.

Until then [and even afterwards], I intend to remember that red lights are sometimes blessings in disguise, stop signs can be good things, and unanswered prayers may just be life's greatest blessings.