First Choice?

I have read many posts and message boards lately where the idea of adoption is discussed in relation to whether it was a first choice or second choice decision. Some of these people really criticize those adopted parents who pursued infertility treatments first (first choice) and then only after failure, resorted to adopting; thus making the adoption a second choice. It was almost as if there was an elusive gold star given to those parents who always knew they were going to adopt and had never pursued any other means of having children.

This really bothered me.

I don't really think there is something like "first choice" or "second choice."

I think there is only "God's choice."

There are so many instances in my life that I look back on the decisions I've made. How many times have I done things the way I've wanted to without letting God lead me? I think back to when I first tried to get a teaching job. I wanted a job in my hometown. Period. I jumped through every hoop, went through every door, did a long term subbing position.... even interviewed for what I thought was my dream job. During the same time, God had opened the doors for an elementary music position in a neighboring city. I was OFFERED the job and yet still, I waited on this fantasy job I thought was going to make me happy. Ignoring the door that God had opened. Continuing to do things my way. Finally, I took the Hudsonville job and I have never been happier! I work with the most amazing staff and principal anyone could ask for! I have a beautiful room, brand new facilities. I have music colleagues that I plan with that are such a blessing to my life. I get to instill a love of music in my students. It truly is a dream job. It was not my first choice, it was better than first choice. It was God's choice. It was perfect.

There are times in our lives that we do things because we don't think there is anything better. Perhaps we choose to eat the same foods over and over, but what if there was the most amazing recipe out there that we didn't know about? Would it be considered second choice just because we hadn't discovered it? What if we always went to the same vacation destination year after year... not knowing a place that was out of this world was available to us? Would it be considered second best because we hadn't went there first?

Our lives are like roads. We go down many paths and trust God to lead us in the right direction. When a path is blocked, we go back and try another path that God has opened.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

When Jeff and I tried to add a third child to our family, we struggled for 2+ years to get pregnant. We endured tests and infertility treatments... all the while determined to do it our way. But each month God shut the door. I still remember the moment we made the decision to adopt. We were both filled with such peace and reassurance that THIS choice was the right choice. God opened this door for us. No more doing it our way. We needed to do it His way.
Our daughter will not be our second choice. She will not be our first choice. She will be the perfect choice. Better than anything we could have every imagined. She will be God's perfect choice.