A Little Something About Our Pearl

Pearl.

The name I absolutely, without a doubt, knew God was directing us to give our newest daughter.

Four years ago, sitting in my favorite chair, Bible in my lap, reading through Matthew 13, that word, that name, illuminated itself on the page.

"The kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 

When he found one of great value, he went away,

sold everything he had and bought it."

Matthew 13:45-46

Great value, immeasurable worth, a fine pearl. 

And so she was named. For four years, we've tenderly called her by her name, her God-given name, even when we had absolutely no clue who she was or who she would be.

Divya

The name of the little girl our agency called to tell us about as a possible referral and match for our family. The call came on March 20, 2015, coincidentally her first birthday.

Then came the biggest shock.

"He always has a holy surprise up His sovereign sleeve."

Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker

Our agency coordinator continued by telling us that Divya's file listed her with blonde hair and blue eyes; she had been diagnosed with a mild form of albinism.

[Albinism (albino) - an inherited condition, characterized by lack of pigment (melanin) in the skin that normally gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes.]

Then we saw her picture. 

Her skin was fair, not pale, but fair, just like ours.

Her hair, the little she had then, was pretty darn close to Grace and Gloria's hair color.

All this time, we'd been anticipating, been expecting, an adorable brown-skinned baby. And here we were staring at a little girl who looked like she already belonged in our family.

We were stunned.

Over the years, as I'd been praying for the little girl we would adopt, I prayed for her heart and for her spirit and for her mind. 

I'd prayed that she'd be confident in how God had created her and who He had created her to be.  I had spent many moments praying she'd be secure in her beauty, not comparing herself to her older sisters, not feeling like she was different in our home.

And then there was this little girl, who didn't look different at all, who no one would ever suspect was born in India.

We knew.  We knew this was our daughter, our Pearl.

We accepted her referral and have been matched with her ever since.

Never could we have guessed in a million years that God would break our hearts for India, for the girls who live in India, call us to adopt from India, and then match us with a little girl who looks like she wasn't born in India. 

I can't even explain it.  I won't try.

All I know is that God planned for her to be ours and we're about to see Miss Pearl Divya face to face for the first time..very, very soon!

[Side note: Her hair has grown out some and has actually turned brown now, just like Derek's. :)]