Connie, a 50-year-old social worker in Tampa, FL, tried twice to get him placed into a new home. But Taylor had anger issues, and over a course of 10 years, the adoptive parents gave him back. Two times a failure. The expectation appeared to get ingrained in Taylor’s head that he was indeed not lovable.
As reported by Steve Hartman (On the Road, CBS, 12/27/13), Connie felt so bad about Taylor’s situation, she developed pain in her own body. Many nights brought her nothing but sleeplessness. She finally concluded she had no other choice but to give the troubled teen up as a client. But then it dawned on her. Yes, she would have to give him up as a client. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t take him on as a son. Connie ended up adopting Taylor. He joined the divorcee’s two biological daughters in their family unit.
At first, things did not go well–not well at all. The expectation of failure was so ingrained in Taylor’s head, he threatened to run away. Only after Connie re-assured him that she would not be like the others—she would not send him packing—did the situation improve.
Someone had to convince Taylor he was unconditionally loved. What a challenge. My hat goes off to the two families that tried unsuccessfully to nurture this troubled teen—more than most of us would dare. But then Connie came along. What an example of Love Lived Large! Like our Father God, she loved Taylor unconditionally. God never sends anyone away. No matter how many times we have failed, we are always welcome in his arms.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
(1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)
Such a wonderful truth. To be loved unconditionally is a great comfort which brings a warmth and peace to ones heart. It is a beautiful moment when you realise that Father God loves us in this never ending intense and personal way.