A God-Wink

by Linda Summerford

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. Isaiah 43:1 NIV

 “Can you help me find my sisters?”

Virginia Calhoun stopped and stared at Martha. “Whoa, I sense a story in that question!”

“Yes ma’am. I’d love to share it with you.”

“I’m here at the hospital to facilitate an infant adoption. I’ll come find you as soon as we’re finished. I want to know more.”

An hour later, Virginia found Martha. “There you are,” she said, “I’m eager to hear your story.”

Martha began, “There were four children in our home, ranging from eight months to five years old. We were separated into foster care because of abuse and neglect. My sisters probably don’t remember me, since we were all so young, but I remember them.

“When I was 16, I found out that my sisters were adopted. So I had to wait until the youngest turned 18 before any information could be released, and only then with the adoptive parents’ permission. She will be 18 on June 6. Can you help me?”

“I’d love to help  you. Write a letter to the adoptive parents. Let them feel your love for your sisters. I will make sure they get your letter. Then leave it in God’s hands and pray.”

“Thank you, Ms. Calhoun. I believe our meeting each other today is one of those Godwink moments, don’t you?”

“Yes, I believe with God there’s no such thing as a coincidence!”

Martha wrote: Hello, I’m Martha. We haven’t met yet, but I hope one day to be able to hug your neck. I’d like to thank you for taking care of my little sisters, Wanda and Linda, all these years. They were so young when we were separated, they probably don’t remember me, but I never stopped thinking about them. One special thing I remember about Linda was that I gave her a doll and named it Martha, so she would never forget my name.

I was never adopted but grew up in foster care until I aged out of the system.

I don’t want to interrupt your family or cause any harm, but it’s my heart’s desire to meet my sisters at least once before I die. If you feel it in your heart to grant me this one wish, I would be forever grateful. Love, Martha           

One day a social worker called the younger girls’ adoptive mother to tell her about the letter. The mother read the note with tears in her eyes, remembering during the first few weeks after their adoption, Linda kept asking, “Where’s Martha?” Little did she know it wasn’t a baby doll Linda was missing, as she had thought.

It was her older sister, Martha.

Regardless of what names we have been given, or if our names are changed, God not only remembers our name but calls us by our name.

A few days after receiving the letter, the adoptive mother asked her daughters a question she never thought she’d ask.

“Girls, how would you like to meet your sister?”

May we be ready to see what seems like coincidences in our lives as God-winks. God sends messages to us to encourage and reassure us that he indeed hears our prayers.

This book is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Linda Summerford is an award winning author of The Glider, a book about her childhood memories as a foster and adopted child. She served on a foster care review board and on a task force promoting legislative foster care and adoption reforms. Linda now lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband Richard. She is the President of Word Weavers, Maggie Valley, NC.

Join the conversation: Have you ever experienced a God-wink? Please share!

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