“Dad, can we talk?” he asked.
Steve nodded. “Sure, son.” He gestured to the empty couch and the two of them sat down, one at each end.
“Pretty exciting about Chen, huh?” Caleb said. “You should have seen his face when Luke told him he’d be coming to live with him here.”
“I’m glad you got to see that,” Steve remarked. Hope that doesn’t bring a defensive reaction. I’ve gotta watch what I say with him. But the expression on Caleb’s face was anything but defensive. In fact, he looked pretty nervous and vulnerable.
“So, while I was in China with Luke, I realized how great I’ve had it here, with you and Mom, I mean. I know I’ve made it hard for you guys with all the Adam stuff. But it was something I just felt like I had to do,” he explained, looking at Steve earnestly. “Anyway, I wanted to say that I’m sorry for causing you any grief in the process.”
Steve smiled and reached over and patted his knee. “Apology accepted,” he said. “Besides, it was never about my feelings. All of my concerns were about you and yours.” He paused and then added, “I know I haven’t been a perfect father, Caleb. And if I could go back in time, I’d do some things very differently. But I’ve never intentionally hurt you, and I didn’t want to see Adam do that.”
Caleb nodded, and the two of them sat silently for a moment. “You know, Luke and I had a really good talk one night at the orphanage.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“We were talking about dads and what it means to be a dad.”
Steve leaned in closer. “I’ll bet that’s on Luke’s mind a lot now, what with adopting Chen and he and Madison having a baby, too.”
“Yeah. He was saying the same stuff like you were—about not being able to be a perfect dad.”
“I have a feeling Luke will be a great father,” Steve said.
“Me, too,” Caleb replied. “But he made a good point of talking about how God is the only perfect Father.”
Steve could see how much that truth was sinking into his son’s mind and spirit. Then Steve felt God nudge him to share the first moment Caleb had taken a hold of his heart. “I want to tell you something, Caleb. Something I’ve wanted to share with you ever since we told you that you were adopted. But the timing never felt right.”
This time it was Caleb who leaned in. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s partly about you and me, but it’s also about me and God,” Steve began. He leaned back on the arm of the couch and looked away for a moment, searching for just the right words. The scene he wanted to share was clear in his mind, but he needed to communicate it in a way that Caleb would fully grasp.
“So, here’s the thing. When your mom first told me about Amber and her pregnancy, I thought about what a shame it was. Then, when she told me that Amber wanted us to adopt you, a list of reservations immediately formed in my mind. Wouldn’t this get pretty messy with Amber knowing us personally? Could I love you with the same kind of love that I had for Madison? And finally, how would your mother take it if Amber changed her mind?
“We’ve never shared this with you or with Madison, but Maddie was a miracle baby, Caleb. There were some medical issues on my part that made it nearly impossible for us to have kids. In fact, we almost adopted another little baby that we’d planned to name Caleb.”
“Really?”
“Yep. We had the nursery all set up and everything. Your mother was walking on air. And then we got the call that the birth mother changed her mind.”
“Bummer,” Caleb said.
“It was really tough. But then we did artificial insemination, and your sister was conceived. There was a slight chance that she’d be biologically mine. But the likelihood was slim.”
Caleb’s eyebrows rose. “Wow.”
“I really wrestled with it more than I thought I would, to be honest with you. And by the time she was born, I just had to know for certain one way or the other.”
“Kind of like how I needed to know about Adam,” Caleb interjected.
That caught Steve off guard. He paused for a second and then replied. “Yeah. Kind of like that.”
“So what did you do?” his son asked.
“I did a DNA paternity test, much to your mother’s chagrin,” Steve replied. “But before I could even get the results, I had a talk with your Great Grandpa Phil, and he gave me a totally different perspective on Madison and the whole biological father thing.”
“Really? What did he say?”
“He reminded me of something really important in the Bible—that Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, and yet he played an important role in Jesus’ life as Mary’s husband and Jesus’ dad.”
“Oh yeah. I never really thought about that,” Caleb said with a grin.
“Me neither,” Steve replied. “So anyway, before we even opened the lab results on the DNA test, I realized that I’d still be Maddie’s dad either way.”
“So are you?” Caleb asked. “I mean are you her biological father?”
“Actually, yes. I am. Like I said, it was a miracle. But God didn’t allow me to find that out until I was already at peace about the alternative.”
“Did you think about that when you were considering adopting me?”
“I did. But I’ll tell you something, Caleb, God taught me something even more important through my becoming your father.” Steve looked deeply into Caleb’s eyes before he continued. In an instant he was transported back in time to the first time he’d been alone with that tiny baby boy in his arms.
“The first two weeks after we brought you home from the hospital were a blur, just like when Madison was a newborn, only more so. Now, we not only had a tiny baby keeping us up on and off all night, but we also had a little girl who needed our attention throughout the day.”
Caleb grinned nervously. “Sorry about that, Dad.”
Steve smiled in return. “Anyway, after a couple of weeks, your mom wanted to go to school for her eighth graders’ graduation ceremony. And she left you with me.
“You were a little fussy that day, and I ended up in the rocking chair with you, trying to get you to settle down and fall asleep. Finally, you stopped crying and looked up at me with the biggest eyes as if you were studying my face. Your body relaxed into my arms and a wave of love came over me. It was so powerful. I’ll never forget that moment. It was when I knew that you were mine, and that I was yours,” Steve said, his voice shaking a bit as he tried to compose himself.
Caleb’s eyes filled with tears. But he didn’t say anything. He just watched as Steve took a deep breath and continued.
“God spoke to me in that moment, son. It wasn’t audible, but it was clear as clear can be. ‘That love you feel is the same love I have for you,’ He explained. ‘And although you are adopted into My family, My love for you is as deep as the love I have for My only begotten Son. Always remember that, above all else.”
Now both men’s eyes were brimming with tears.
“So, you see, Caleb, God has used the gift of our adoption of you to help me understand the amazing gift of His love. Although I was a believer for a number of years before you came into our lives, I never completely grasped the heart of God and the depth of His vast and endless love for me until that moment with you in my arms.”
Caleb’s heart swelled in his chest with a renewed feeling of deep connection with his dad. And then he considered what kind of life lessons he might be hearing tonight if he were being raised by Adam, instead, who’d only been a teen in high school when Caleb was born.
In that moment, Caleb realized that God had provided a much better dad than the one through whom Amber had conceived. And as an image of Tan swept through his mind, he also realized how very much he had to be thankful for. Turning to face Steve, tears threatening to embarrass him, he reached out and welcomed his dad’s embrace. “I love you, Dad,” he said.
“I love you, too, son,” Steve replied, as they clung tightly to each other.
Later that night, as a storm brought
wind and rain to Sandy Cove, Caleb fell to his knees beside his bed and prayed to his heavenly Father in ways he’d never done before, thanking Him for the parents who’d raised him and for Amber’s courage to give him up at birth. And once again, he prayed for Adam—that he would one day come to know God himself. Before ending his prayer, he also asked God to watch over Tan. Show me how I can help kids like him someday, he prayed in earnest.
And then a scripture his mom had shared with him many times popped into his mind. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The next day, after the storm had subsided, Michelle ran to the market for her grandmother. As she was unloading the groceries at Gram’s house, she was able to share Steve’s conversation with Caleb from the night before.
“I’d almost forgotten about Grandpa’s conversation with Steve,” Michelle remarked.
Joan smiled and nodded. “Your grandpa was a smart fellow. He sure did know how to bring the Bible right into our lives.” She stared off into space for a moment and then added wistfully, “I miss that man.”
“Me too, Grams,” Michelle replied, wrapping her arms around Joan’s frail form.
The two clung to each other, and Michelle silently thanked God for both of her grandparents and the legacy of faith they’d instilled in her. It had been so difficult for her to let go of Grandpa Phil. He’d been such a spiritual anchor.
Lately God was teaching Michelle that her grandfather was a foreshadow of her direct relationship with her heavenly Father. In her quiet times of prayer and Bible study, He kept opening her eyes to the depth of His love for her as His very treasured daughter. With both her earthly father and grandfather gone, God Himself was becoming so much more personal and important to her.
Watching Grandma Joan grow more and more frail and forgetful reminded Michelle that soon another spiritual leader of their family would cross over into Jesus’ waiting arms. She determined to spend as much time with Joan as possible, while she continued to deepen her relationship with God.
“Grandma?” she asked.
“Yes, dear?”
“Do you talk to God more now that Grandpa’s been gone for a while?” Michelle paused and then added, “I mean, does God seem even closer to you?”
Her grandmother smiled and nodded. “He sure does, sweetheart. Why, when I’m all alone at night, I sometimes just sit here and talk to Him right out loud.” She laughed to herself and then looked a little embarrassed. “I suppose I’m turning into a senile old coot.”
“No, Grams. I don’t think so at all,” Michelle replied. “I do the same thing myself, just not out loud as often because there’s usually someone around. But I’m learning to go straight to God these days more and more. It seems like He’s teaching me to depend less on other people and more on Him to meet all my needs.”
Joan patted her on the arm. “Your grandpa would be so proud of you, Michelle.” She smiled and then added, “Whew wee—you gave us a run for our money when you were a youngster and got yourself going with all that New Age stuff. But look at you now! God’s done some mighty work in you and your family, sweetheart. And I’ve got a feeling He’s not finished yet.”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Reader,
When I sat down to write this story, I was coming from a place of brokenness. Having been rejected by some people very close to me, I was in the process of examining my pain and my past, and how those factors influenced my relationships today.
As my journey and the story in this novel unfolded, I began to see the immense impact a father has on his children and their lives. And I knew there were two important messages God wanted to communicate through this book.
The first is the overriding importance of knowing God as the only perfect Father.
The second is the sacred responsibility of earthly fathers to influence their children’s lives in positive ways—giving them a taste of the love of their heavenly Father while also pointing them to Him as their ultimate source of fulfillment of their deepest needs.
Through my own journey of soul-searching brokenness, I’ve come to discover a much deeper understanding of the heart of God our Father. He is teaching me to let His love be the fuel that energizes me, the river of Life that fills and fulfills me, the strong tower that protects me, the balm that heals me, the calm in my storm, my resting place at night, my anchor to Truth, and my unending fount of wisdom.
I believe God gave us the example of His Son to demonstrate the unique bond between a father and his children. And then He took it a step further by inviting us to join His family through spiritual adoption.
When a child is placed in foster care, he is afforded the basic necessities of life in the home of someone who is legally obligated to be his temporary guardian. But when a child is adopted, he becomes an heir alongside any siblings that may be in his new family.
Fostering can be motivated by a number of factors, but adoption is a lifelong choice based on the desire to forge a family tie that cannot be broken. This process is perhaps one of the most profound gifts exchanged between any people. For the parents, they are gifted with a child, an heir, a focal point for their love. For the child, he receives the gift of belonging to his very own family.
Here’s the most important truth I hope to communicate through this story—to those who were raised by godly fathers and to those who were not—you have access to a heavenly Father who is more than godly. He is God.
His love is limitless, His grace is bountiful, His judgment is fair, and His salvation is eternal.
And if you are a father, trying to raise your children to know and love God, understand it’s not all on your shoulders. No matter how much you love your children and try to be the perfect father, you will make mistakes. You will let them down many times. You will fail to keep some of your promises. And you will react in the flesh at times in ways that are far from godly.
God is not calling you to be Him. He’s calling you to point your children to Him.
The most important lesson you can teach them is to look to God as their ultimate source of love—a love that will give them strength when they are weary, that will fill and fulfill them when they are empty, that will guard and protect them from the darkness, that will heal their broken hearts and the wounds of the world, that will be a source of calm in any storm, provide a safe resting place in the night, be their anchor to truth, and provide them with wisdom.
As their earthly father, you have more power than anyone else to connect them to their Heavenly Father.
In this story, Madison faced feelings of inadequacy and fear. She needed to learn to trust God with her calling as Luke’s wife. She did this by learning to listen to her heavenly Father, who spoke to her through her prayers, her parents, her counselor, her great grandmother, Joan.
Meanwhile, her brother Caleb had to struggle to come to terms with the inadequacies of both his adopted father and his biological father to meet some deep inner needs he had. In the end, only his heavenly Father could provide that. He did it for Caleb, He’s done it for me, and He can do it for you.
If you’ve never accepted God’s invitation to join His family, now’s the perfect time. The adoption papers have been drawn up with your name on them, signed in the precious blood of Jesus, who redeemed you on the cross.
Do you want in? Into the heart of God? Into His unending provisions, His boundless love, and His eternal mercy and grace? It’s only a prayer away. You don’t need any magical words. Just tell Him you know you aren’t perfect—that, in fact, you’ve fallen far short. Ask Him to forgive you and to make you one of His own. Thank Him for the cross and the forgiveness made possible by Christ’s death there, where He paid the price for every sin you or I have ever committed. And then trust Him to begin guiding you from this point on.
If you are already a member of the family of God (or even if you just became one!) thank Him for being the Father no hum
an ever could. Thank Him for His promises, His faithfulness, His loving kindness, and His unending grace.
Then go tell someone else, who needs that kind of Father.
If the story of Chen touched your heart, and you feel moved to reach out to orphans who need both earthly parents and a Heavenly One, a good place to start would be Shepherd’s Field. The Children’s Garden was based loosely on information about that orphanage. You can learn more here: http://chinaorphans.org
Thanks for taking this journey with me. I believe there are more stories to come. I’d love to hear your stories as well, and how this book impacted you. You can email me at [email protected]. If you would like to receive updates about special offers and future releases, you can email me with the simple message of “Add me” and you’ll be added to my personal contacts list. You’ll be the first to know about upcoming releases and special offers, as well as opportunities to participate in launch teams. As a special thanks, I’m creating a digital gift for all of my subscribers that will be sent out soon.
You are a blessing to me! Let’s keep in touch. You can visit me on the web at www.RosemaryHines.com and keep up with my blogs and news on my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/RosemaryHinesAuthorPage
And don’t forget to visit my Amazon author page, where you’ll find all the titles in the Sandy Cove Series: Rosemary Hines Amazon Author
If you enjoyed this story, please take a moment to post a review. Here is the Amazon link for its page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9B59GL
In Christ,
Rosemary Hines
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/RosemaryHinesAuthorPage
www.rosemaryhines.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am so very thankful for the many people God brings into my life, as I write each book. From my faithful readers, who encourage me to press on, to consultants who bring authenticity and accuracy to my story, to the technical workers who create a cover, edit my writing, and format my manuscript—it requires a team to bring each tale to fruition.
Above All Else (Sandy Cove Series Book 7) Page 27
