Visiting my Past

I was invited to come visit Nashville Agape today. As an adopted child, Nashville Agape holds a very close sweet spot in my heart. The current building is not the place I visited as a baby when I was adopted, but I did not expect the emotions I had flood my mind as I entered the building. I was kindly seated in the waiting room and was looking around. This place holds so many hopes and dreams. The mother and father about to have an adoption party onsite. The mother who is there to visit her children while she tries to get her life together. The foster parents there to pick up their newest addition to their home. Just a plethora of reasons folks would be there. When I walked in the door I physically felt the hope there. It was an emotional weight in my chest.

I sat there and observed a woman filling out paperwork of some sort. Another woman was staring off into space. I couldn’t help but wonder why they were there. I also couldn’t keep my mind from wandering to the thought of how my parents must have felt sitting in a waiting room much like the one I was sitting in today. Waiting for me. Knowing that when they were called back, the social worker would bring their baby girl, me, to them. The sheer magnitude of excitement must have been overwhelming to them as they waited to be called back so many years ago. I could imagine the 1960 model cars going up and down the street. I got choked up just sitting there. I was called back and given a tour of the location including the timeline of the history of Nashville Agape. I was shown the room where families receive their child when they adopt. As I looked into the room, I could see a much younger version of my parents sitting on that couch waiting for me, receiving me, and holding me for the very first time. My mind’s eye painted that as a beautiful portrait of a moment in my family’s life.

I had a beautiful discussion with the folks there at Agape today but more than anything I enjoyed the hope that I felt within the walls of the building. May God bless all the selfless mothers who gave up their children or will give up their children so that they can have a life better than what they can provide at the time of their child’s birth. God bless the foster parents and the parents who are trying to get their act together so they can regain custody of their children. God bless the children. And God bless every person affiliated with Nashville Agape. They are heroes in my book. I was blessed to meet several of them today. Heroes.