Meeting my Father's Son...

Part of the Adoption Agreement was that my Parents would give me a “religious upbringing”.  Although they were both good and loving People, they did not personally have an Intimate Relationship with God, nor were they a member of any “religious organization”.  So to abide by the Agreement, each and every Sunday morning from the time I was 3 years old until 12, my Parents drove me to the church closest to our Home...Saint Paul United Church of Christ.

My Dad would drive up to the entrance and while he waited in the car, my Mom would walk me in to my Sunday School Class.  They would go off for breakfast and pick me up when Church was over.  I didn’t mind though.  Even as a little Girl, I loved being in the Presence of my Heavenly Father and learning more about Him and His Heavenly Realm!!  It brought comfort to my young Spirit knowing that I was surrounded by His Angels (Ministering Spirits) and that He spoke to us through donkeys and bushes!!  I never doubted His Power or Might!!

Because the Most High knew I would be an “Only Child” and never grow up with Brothers and Sisters, He quickly introduced me to His Son Jesus!!!  It was all so simple for me to grasp and understand even at such a young age...God was my Father and God was Jesus’ Father too...so Jesus was my Big Brother who would always be by my side!!!!  I simply accepted the fact that He would protect me, keep me company, listen to me and keep me from all danger and harm.  I  spent many hours talking to Him and our Father about anything and everything that was on my young mind...knowing if I listened closely, I would hear Their Responses to my endless questions and random comments.

I learned through Song that “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so...Little Ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong” and also that “Jesus loves the Little Children, ALL the Children of the World...Red and Yellow, Black or White, They are Precious in His Sight”.

Those two Truths, combined with the totally selfless Unconditional Love I received at Home from my Parents, formed and molded me during my early years.  I grew up with the Knowing that I was surrounded by Love, both on Earth and in Heaven.  I also knew that my Big Brother Jesus was my example to live by and because He was my personal Hero, I longed to be just like Him, loving everyone...”Red and Yellow, Black or White”.

It wouldn’t be until years later that I sadly discovered not everyone loves like Jesus does.

At the Moment of my Birth...

At the Moment of my Birth, the Most High, the Creator of All Creation, wrapped me in His Holy Hands.  All ties to my "Blood Relatives" were severed and I belonged to Him and only Him from that point on.

On the afternoon of the seventh day of the seventh month, in 1958, I was born a "bastard".  According to Webster's Dictionary I was..."a "natural" child; a child begotten and born out of wedlock; an illegitimate child; one born of an illicit union."

My birth-Mother Jeannine was an unmarried barmaid.  She was living with her alcoholic Mother raising her Son (my half-brother) who was  just over a year old, whose Father was a married man.  I had a different Father who was also married at the time of my conception, with a pregnant wife and two other children at home.  He ended the affair once he knew I was on the way.

My Heavenly Father immediately wrapped me in His Holy Hands as I took my first breath.  He already knew what was coming for His little six-pound baby girl.

Jeannine refused to hold me after I was born.  She gave me away.  She didn't want me.  She never even looked at me.  Instead, the first bosom I was coddled and cuddled upon, was that of "Dorothy"...a beautiful, brown-skinned nurse from Jamaica.  I was named after "Dorothy" on my original birth certificate since she was the one who welcome me into the World and cared for me during those early hours.  She then had to get me ready to go to the orphanage, where I would lay for six weeks.

During those six weeks, Yahweh worked His Magic!!!  He Divinely Orchestrated the coming together of my Adoption with my "Earthly Parents", Calvin and Ramona Holste!!!!  And they were ready for a Daughter!!!

Calvin had a good job at General Electric, Mona was a loving housewife, they were already married 8 years, had their own house in a nice neighborhood, lots of Nieces and Nephews, yet simply unable to conceive their own Child.  God had been listening to their cries to become Parents for many years.  He knew their hearts were good and pure and capable of giving His newly born Daughter the Unconditional Love she would need in her Life!!!

When the social worked brought me to my new Home (an adorable yellow-brick Cape Cod house),  I was wearing a light yellow dress with little ruffled matching panties (which I still have after 53 years).  At that moment, I became the answer to their Prayers...and I became a "Daughter"...no longer a "bastard".

All Praise, Glory and Gratitude to my Heavenly Father, who wrapped me in His Holy Hands and carried me to my Parents that day!!!  Wopila Tunkasila!!!  (thank you Grandfather!!!!)

In His Holy Hands I remain...