Much Good Can Come From Great Difficulty

When Erin was just 16 years old, one choice changed her life. A high school junior, Erin wasn’t preoccupied with prom or the PSAT. Those concerns faded into the background when she learned was pregnant.

Erin knew this decision was hers alone. Her parents, overwhelmed by the crisis, offered support but had no reference in how to help her navigate this unplanned pregnancy. She was alone and needed guidance and support. But she’d seen the power of one previous choice. And she was determined to make a better one for her baby.

Erin prayed about her decision and felt drawn to adoption. She told her older brother, who encouraged her to pursue that option. She believed it was the right choice, but knew it wasn’t going to be easy. She wasn’t sure where to start to find the right place for her baby. Thankfully, about two months into her pregnancy, Erin discovered The HOPE Center. There, Erin found the support she’d been missing. The center’s director, Deborah, welcomed her like a daughter. Through weekly counseling sessions, volunteers walked Erin through every step of her pregnancy as she journeyed toward adoption. The atmosphere was one of pure encouragement. Erin recalls, “I never felt judged, ever. Just loved and supported.”

There was one slight problem, though. Erin had seen the effects of lowering her standards. She wasn’t about to do the same for her son. She developed a questionnaire for potential parents — which ran almost 100 questions long! With two months to go until her due date, she still hadn’t found the perfect fit.

In the midst of this gut-wrenching search, Erin was

also trying to finish high school. One day after school, her homeroom teacher sought her out. The teacher’s sister had recently endured a miscarriage and was considering adoption instead. Would Erin be willing to talk to her?

Erin agreed. She had her questionnaire ready. But it only took one question — what do you believe about God? — for Erin to know she’d found her son’s parents. Peace and relief flooded her.

She had decided just in time. Baby Jordan arrived two weeks early. Erin’s deepest desire for her delivery was that Jordan’s new mom be in the room when Jordan was born. Jeanne was a plane ride away, but dropped everything when she heard that Erin was in labor. She walked in thirty minutes before Jordan made his debut.

As soon as Jordan was born, Erin asked the doctor to give him to his new mommy. She wanted Jeanne to be the first to hold him. Erin recalls, “I’ll never forget her face and her tears and the joy that was in the room. It was a beautiful moment. I’ve never regretted it one day in my life.”

Erin knew she’d made the right choice for her son. And she wanted Jordan to know that his parents had chosen him. She never thought his adoption should be a surprise or a secret. Instead, she says, “I wanted him to know that he was chosen by love and that it was a godly decision.”

Jordan’s parents honored her wishes and her story. They always spoke highly of Erin and the courage of her choice. They sent her pictures and updates as Jordan grew. When Jordan turned 16, they gave him the letter 16-year-old Erin had written to her baby boy. She shared her story and her hopes for her son — hopes that have since been met and exceeded.

When Jordan was 23, he decided he was ready to meet Erin. The reunion took place at the home of his aunt — Erin’s former teacher. The honor and respect Jordan’s parents gave Erin laid the groundwork for a natural relationship. If anything, Erin says, Jordan had to learn that she wasn’t Superwoman!

Now 29, Jordan lives nearby and leads worship at a local church. He’s always felt chosen — by Erin, by his parents, and by God. He recognizes the love that permeates his story.

Jordan isn’t the only one at peace with his story. Erin is, too — and now she’s using it to help others. In February, Erin returned to The HOPE Center, this time as an advocate. The Holy Spirit had been nudging her in that direction, and when Jordan suggested it as well, she knew it was time to jump in. In August, Erin became a member of the staff, and she serves as an advocate on board the Mobile and in the Center.

Now, Erin shares her story with young women who need the same support she did. She celebrates the beauty of adoption and how the Lord can use it. She knows it’s not a popular route and that it can be extremely difficult. But she also sees the good that can come of it — she and her son have experienced it. So, she simply tells her story. “Living through it,” she says, “has helped the testimony land. I’m speaking from my heart.”