Molly

Every year on my birthday, I thumb through the pages of a special photo album, an album my cousin hand-made for me as I was about to become an official member of my family. The photo album was made with nothing but love and holds the only photographs I have of my past, of the life I lived in Fujian, China from 1996 to 1998. Within that photo album’s pages are pictures of baby Molly; baby Molly rocking on a rocking horse outside of her orphanage, baby Molly sitting on the lap of the nanny who cared for her and several other Chinese girls, and baby Molly the moment she was placed into the arms of her parents. I was adopted from China 23 years ago, and it was the best day of my life. It was the day I received a second family, a family who was committing to loving me “no matter what,” through the good days and the bad days. And every day since, I thank God for the family I have now and for all of the ways in which I have grown into my adoptee identity. However, November 1st, 2020 marked the day in my life when I was not only adopted into my family but also adopted into God’s family. This All Saints’ Day I was baptized and welcomed into God’s family. Having been “doubly-adopted,” per se, is such a unique feeling, one I will treasure forever and hold close to my heart. Just as my parents chose to adopt me, God chose to adopt me. God chose to make me one of God’s children forever, no matter what. God will never leave me and will remain faithful and true, always. So though the first two years of my life remain a mystery and incomplete in many ways, the subsequent years have brought much happiness, joy, and love, and I have my parents and God to thank.