Life is a Journey...

When I think back to my earliest memories, they were not my fondest. It was a pretty scary time for me... my earliest recollection was when I was probably about 4 years old and all I remember is that I felt very "alone" even though I was in an orphanage with many other homeless children! I only remember a tremendous feeling of "not belonging"- anywhere. I remember a feeling of intense loneliness, which unfortunately followed me thru much of my childhood-and especially the feeling that I just did not "fit in" with any of the other kids who were there with me in this strange place...I now realize that we all probably felt this way, but were way too young to be able to express this to others. We were there because none of us had "parents" any longer-meaning, a mom and a dad. The reasons why, are probably as variable as the many stars in the sky! The only thing we really had in common was that none of us had a family any longer-we had been separated from our natural birth parents, for whatever reason, and were left at an orphanage. Evidently this was a common practice during that time period; kids were either placed in orphanages or Foster Care...I spent a brief time in Foster Care, but was then placed in a Lutheran Orphanage.

While at this orphanage, I vaguely remember a kind woman who would come and assist the woman who ran the place....the woman who ran the place had a German accent and was very kind as well-UNLESS you broke one of her rules! Her name was Friedel...and she was the only reason I could endure staying there-she was very pleasant and friendly and I really liked her and she liked me too. I can actually still remember her face! The lady who kept coming and had an interest in me eventually adopted me and she became the mom I now know and remember when I became part of a family again. I think I was about 4 1/2 when I started to live with what has become "my family". It actually took many years before the actual adoption took place, though. In 1963 I was legally adopted by the man and woman who accepted me as "their own", and became "my legal parents".

I think I'll stop here as I have some family obligations to attend to ... I hope that you will share some of your past experiences that have been similar to what I've expressed. My hope is that this will be a place where others who have experienced similar situations will be able to share those experiences. I named my blog "Life Is A Journey" because I truly believe that this is the perfect title for our existence here. Each of us has traveled a different journey from where we began...and many of us have experienced tough hardships and difficulties as well as happy memories along the way. Isn't it nice to know that although you felt very much alone at that time, there are others who understand and can be here for you now? Some of us may have become part of a family which we now treasure-for others, maybe family ties haven't been as warm and friendly but they are still memorable for us. Many of us branched out into our lives and still experience occasional feelings of uncertainty, indecisiveness and insecurity. Some become distrusting-and question everyone and every situation encountered! Our self-worth should not be determined by what happened to us when we were children!

We need to understand that we have value-especially when others may have treated us as if we do not. God created every person with a unique value... if you give your life to God and serve HIM, God will always be there for you-and will hear every prayer, and He will guide you thru every circumstance-He will guide you thru His Word.

Verse to consider:
Luke 12:24-12:26 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn: yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.