The Pain of Adoption, the Power of Forgiveness & the Hope of Reconciliation | Anita Keagy on the Rooted in Christ Podcast Ep. 220

[2 Speakers Detected] [Total Utterances: 31]

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[0:00 -> 0:46] Speaker 1: I'd been a Christian too long, and reading the Bible, I become kind of complacent. I was reading more out of a homework situation than an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. So I began starting to. Every time I opened my Bible, I'd say, I want to know you, Jesus. I just want to know you. And I was so hungry for him. I had no idea how hungry I had been for him. And so it just changed the whole way I look at my Bible. One of my favorite quotes by Oswald Chambers, he says, I hold in my hands the very thoughts of God. That's mind blowing if you really think about it. If we really believe when we open the Bible, we're actually holding God's thoughts, that's a while to me that we have that privilege.

[0:52 -> 1:04] Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Rooted in Christ podcast. My name is Eric Stephens. I'm the founder of Redwood Christian Ministry Ministries. With me on this show is my sister in Christ, Anita Keggy. Sister, welcome to the show. How you doing today?

[1:05 -> 1:08] Speaker 1: Thank you so much for that warm welcome. I love it. I love your voice.

[1:10 -> 1:42] Speaker 2: So I want to. I want to give the audience a chance to hear a little bit about your testimony and your story, because I think it's definitely can inspire some of the people who I know have just been tuning into the show lately. So I want you just to. To take us back to your teenage years and because I know that you had. You became pregnant at a younger age and just from reading a little bit about your bio. So I want you to take us back to when you found out you were pregnant as a teenager and what was going through your mind, like spiritually, emotionally, however you want to, whatever else you want to share with that.

[1:43 -> 9:20] Speaker 1: Well, I will preface this whole beginning part by saying I was very blessed to be raised in a strange, strong, godly Christian home. You know, my dad was a pastor. My mother's dad was a pastor. And so when I say it's a blessing, you don't think about it as you're growing up, but as an adult, you look back and realize what a gift to be raised in a home with a mom and dad that really loved Jesus. And they walked their talk and they taught us at a young age about Jesus and personal relationship with him. They taught us to love the Bible, his Word, and to look to the Word for wisdom. And so I always had a desire when I grew up. You know, I wanted to serve the Lord and whatever that looked like, you know. But as I got into high school, what I cared more about was being a cheerleader. And so you didn't have to make me practice cheerleading. My mother had to make me practice playing the piano. I dreaded that. But cheering was so exciting to me and I would practice every day. And all through high school, I was a cheerleader, like a serious cheerleader. But never in my wildest dreams would I think I would get pregnant. I was kind of a goody two shoe in many ways. I didn't party, I didn't drink, I didn't. Well, you know, I was brought up in a home where you were just taught you don't do those things. But as I got into my junior senior year, I, you know, dated guys and started sec. When I say sexually messing around, it wasn't like heavy duty stuff, but I bought into the lie that I could mess around and go so far, but not the whole way and it. And I wouldn't get burned. And so it was my senior year in high school, prom night. I had a guy friend. We weren't madly in love or anything, but we went to the promotion, we left the prom, we went parking, we started messing around the first time and we went, I hope you don't mind me just being transparent, understanding where I'm coming from. We went as far as you could go without in my mind saying I had gone the whole way. And the next day we both felt convicted that we had even gone that far. And so we prayed, we asked God to forgive us and. And then a few weeks later, I said my goodbyes to everyone because my dad had been invited the pastor a church in Pennsylvania. So we were moving from Tennessee to Pennsylvania and I was two weeks away from going to Messiah College, which is now Messiah University. And I. My parents took me to the doctors because I knew something wasn't right. But I really couldn't imagine that I was pregnant. But my mom was sitting with me, a mom who said, don't kiss anyone till the day you're engaged. And I didn't say it was too late, mom, but I kept my mouth shut. But that's the type of home I was raised in. And so it was there on that examining table, I heard the life changing words, young lady, you're pregnant. And in that moment, my first reaction was, I can't be. I didn't do it. Like that's what I thought. You know, that was my first reaction. The second reaction was, my life is over. Like, I'm 17. What am I going to do? What's my parents gonna. What's this gonna do to my parents? And we're at a brand new church, you know, as a church family. And yeah, in fact, that night I actually have my diary from high school. And I'll read, I'll read to you what I wrote that night. I went home and I wrote, it's over. Because I felt my life was over. What was I going to do? And I felt shame. I went on to say, I'm pregnant. I don't understand why, but I am. Dad and my mom are broke up. There are no words to express how I feel sick. How will my life turn out? I love my mom and dad. That's what I wrote. And so thankfully, I had parents who loved me, accepted me, forgave me, and they never shamed me. They didn't tell me what I was to do. We did the only thing we knew to do, and that was to get down on our knees at their bed and cry out to God, you know, help. And so that night I went to bed and right away the thief who's out to steal, kill and destroy started feeding lies into my mind. And what I was hearing was, anita, you need to get an abortion. That's the only way out of this mess. That's how I viewed it at that time. And even though I in my heart knew it was taking a life, that, you know, that's what I believe, and none, I still realized that fear was now causing me to be more vulnerable to lies. And so I bit into the lie. I. The next day I went and told my parents that I felt I should get an abortion. And Eric, I am not kidding. I thank the Lord that they cared more about my soul than they did about their reputation. And they just said to me, anita, that's really not one of your options because we know how you'll feel later on. And so. So that left me with three choices. Get married, which the guy was 16. I wasn't in love, he was in Tennessee. I just didn't feel that made sense. So that left being a single mom or placing my child for adoption. So that's when, as I stared at those questions, I went into my little tiny bedroom closet and I prayed and asked God for help. What is the best plan for my child, my family and myself? And I did not hear an audible voice. But Eric, I just felt this peace come over me of God giving me peace about the adoption option, that the best plan for my situation and everybody would be to place my child for adoption. Of course, I was naive and I didn't know what that would cost in the long run. But in that moment, I felt that was to be the plan. So I went and told my parents that I felt that the best for all of us would be if I place my child for adoption. And so they stood by me, supported me. But being young and never having a child before, I did not understand what would happen over the next six months that I would fall in love with this child as I felt the baby kicking and moving. And now the closer I got to the due date, the more I cried out, God, did I hear you right? Because this doesn't feel right. You know, this does not. Sorry, I still cry about it.

[9:20 -> 9:24] Speaker 2: No, that's okay. Take your time.

[9:25 -> 12:38] Speaker 1: Like, it's amazing how you can fall in love with a child you've never seen. And so the day I was really crying out to God, I was driving somewhere, I had the radio on, and there was a Christian speaker, and I don't know really what he was talking about, but I heard one sentence, and it went something like this. Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light. And for me, when I heard that statement, I felt the Holy Spirit saying to me, anita, when you were in the closet praying and asking for my wisdom, you were in my light, but your emotions are taking you into the dark, and it's going to get darker. You got to hang on to that moment in the closet with me. And so that was kind of my seal of the deal moment, where I thought, no matter what my emotions are screaming, I will stick to the plan. And so back in the ancient days, we're talking 51 years ago, they didn't have pregnancy resource centers or things to help women like me. And so I was counseled through the. The agency that I went to. The only option I had, they told me that they really thought I shouldn't see my child or hold my child. So I listened to that vice. And so when I went into the hospital, my parents were with me, and I gave birth to a little girl. I heard her cry, but I kept my eyes closed and never saw her or held her. And, Eric, I'm going to tell you, the hardest day of my life was the day I left the hospital without my little girl. And there was a hole in my heart that would always be there. And so that's part one of. Of my journey and where I was at. And as I went home, I had to make a decision. To live in my sorrow or to live in the love and trust of God that he would take care of my daughter. Obviously, I prayed for her to Be placed in a strong Christian home. I made that specific request, but I didn't know for sure where she would land up. Land up. But I just had to trust God that he would take care of her, her. And I had to go on with my life. So I went on to college, didn't finish. I got in two years. And then I met my husband now and we were married. And he. I told him about this child from day one because I. If it was going to make a difference, I wanted it to make a difference before we got, you know, into a deeper relationship. But he always knew and was always supportive of me. And then God bless us. With four children. We had two girls and twin boys. But I never forgot my daughter, and I always wondered where she was. So I can stop at that part or I can keep going. If you have another question.

[12:39 -> 12:56] Speaker 2: Oh, I've got a million and one questions now, but I want to know part two of this story. But I think that, you know, for anyone in the audience, have you had a chance to connect with your daughter? Do you have a relationship now? And what has. If yes, what has that journey been like? If no, what has that journey been like? Okay,

[12:56 -> 25:17] Speaker 1: I love. Well, that's actually part two. So a great question. It went about 20 years, and I always wondered where she was at. But I had a closed adoption. And so I just thought maybe I have to wait. I have to wait and see if someday she reaches out to me. But I didn't feel I should initiate it. But it was never far from my mind. And as my children got older, I. I shared my story with them because I, I don't like secrets, you know, And I wanted my children to feel that they could talk to me if something went wrong in their world, you know, so my oldest daughters already had known that I had had this child, and there's a half sister out there somewhere. My boys were too young yet to understand, so I hadn't told them. But one day my dad asked me. See, my dad and my mom prayed every single day for that girl. This was their first grandchild. And they actually saw her. I asked them when my daughter was born if they would look, look at her in the nursery and tell me what she looked like. And looking back on that, now that I'm a grandparent, oh, my word. How hard that had to have been for them, you know, is this is their first grandchild. But anyway, my dad just said, have you ever thought about trying to find your daughter? And I said, yes, I think about it a lot. But I don't feel it's my place, you know, to initiate it. I feel like she has to be the one that's ready for it. But that kind of stirred the pot in my heart. And one day I was with my oldest daughter shopping. I think she was maybe 16, and I said to her, do you think I should try to find my daughter? And she said, mom, yes, I think you should. Because if I was adopted, I don't think I would initiate it because I would be afraid of being rejected again. And you see, that never occurred to me that my choice of placing her for adoption, from her perspective, would be viewed as rejection. And so I was like, oh, my word. You know, it's. I. I never rejected her in my heart. You know, I just followed what I felt was the best plan. And I forgot to mention also, as part two, as the years were going on, I found out at the adoption agency, I could start a file and write letters to her. So I began when she turned 16, writing her letters and putting them, sending them into the agency to be placed in a file, because they told me when she turned 18, literally, literally at 18, if she would reach out to them and ask for information about her birth parents, they could give her the file and letters. So I was so excited to have a way to tell her how much I loved her and that I was open to a relationship as she was. But now, you know, she turned 18, 19, 20. Now she's 21, and nothing has happened. And that's when I had this conversation with my daughter, my husband's and my first daughter. So at that point, my birth daughter was 21. So I talked to my husband about it, and I. It took a lot of courage, but I called the adoption agency and I just said, I don't even know if this is possible, but is there a way for you to find my daughter? Just to tell her there's a file with letters? Because what if she doesn't know? And she's struggling with rejection and abandonment issues, but now here's these letters telling her she's loved and that her mother wants a relationship with her. And so. And I knew I couldn't force a relationship. I couldn't force her to get the file and read my letters, but I just wanted her to know about it. And so it was a miracle to me that they said, yes, they could try. They couldn't promise they. They would find her, but they would try. And with a. Within a week, I got a phone call saying they had found her. She wasn't quite ready for the file with letters because she was shocked. First of all, she just wasn't expecting this. She was now married and had a little girl herself, which made me a grandmother. Now I was very surprised by that. But they said she would get back and in the meantime she would write me a letter. So she felt it was only fair to write a letter to me to let me know how she's doing. Here's the letter. I still have it. Because when this letter came, Eric, I honestly didn't know if I would get another one. And it was the only letter I had to tell me who she was as a person. And, and I always ask when I speak to an audience, do you think I read that letter one time and put it away? I read it over and over because I wanted to know my daughter and it was all I had. But God began to work in her heart and eventually she got the file, she read my letters and we began corresponding slowly through letter writing until we felt ready to meet face to face, which happened relatively in a short time. And oh my word, Eric. The day I got to meet my daughter was a gift I never really allowed myself to imagine because I didn't want disappointments. You know, I, I. There were no expectations, only trust God. And so I got to meet her face to face, meet her husband, meet my first granddaughter, Emily. And then my husband came and then my parents came and we had just a precious time. But honestly, we didn't know what we would do after that. You know, there are no books to tell you what to do because every situation is different. And for me, God was, had a plan that he was unfolding that actually gave birth to my ministry today. But the, what happened after I met her and what gave, what changed my life spiritually was that one day after I met Twyla, I was reading my Bible and I was in Acts 17, where Paul is in Athens and he sees all of these idols in town. And so he, his eyes zero in on this one idol that says, it's engraved, unknown God. So he pulls all the people together in town and says, this God you worship, you don't know. I'm going to tell you who he is. And he went on to say, this guy created you to seek him, to reach out and find him. And he's not even that far away from you. As your own poets have said, we are his offspring. And when I read that, it was like this download came over me, Eric. And I know it was the Holy Spirit, because in my heart I heard him say you know how you wanted your daughter to seek you and find you? That's how I feel about all my kids. I want them to seek me and find me. And then you know how you started a file sent in letters telling her how much you love her and you want to be in relationship. My Bible is my file and the letters in there are placed for the same reason you put letters in your daughter's file. I want my kids to know how much I love them and I want to be in a relationship with them. I really want to. But just like you couldn't make Twyla open that file and read your letters, guess what? I can't make my own offspring open my Bible and read my letters. And you know what that feels like. And you know what that. Honestly, I can tell you that was probably the moment I surrendered my whole life to him. It's because I knew that pain of having a child that I loved. And I wanted to be involved in her life, but I couldn't make it happen. I couldn't make her want to know me. And for the first time, I kind of got God's heart that he'll never make me want to know them. I have to choose that I'm the one he says in His Word all through the Old Testament and in the New. If you seek me, then you will find me. And I just saw I have a responsibility. I'm the one that is responsible to seek him. And when I start they step, then I find them and he's with me, you know. And so that was just one of those aha moments. And I just said to the Lord, you know, I'm a busy mom with four kids. We have a produce business, we go to market. I wasn't trying to start a ministry at all, but I said, if you want me to share my story and make a spiritual application, you open those doors. And every opportunity you give me, I will also give everyone a Bible reading plan to encourage them to open those letters and get to know Jesus. Because, see, he also convicted me and said, you don't read my letters like you read hers. And you know, it was true. I'd been a Christian too long and reading the Bible, I become kind of complacent. I was reading more out of a homework situation than an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. So I began starting to. Every time I opened my Bible, I'd say, I want to know you, Jesus. I just want to know you. And I was so hungry for him. I had no idea how hungry I'd been for Him. And so it just changed the whole way I look at my Bible. One of my favorite quotes by Oswald Chambers, he says, I hold in my hands the very thoughts of God. That's mind blowing if you really think about it. If we really believe when we open the Bible, we're actually holding God's thoughts. That's a while to me that we have that privilege. And so I look back on my life. He didn't plan for me to get pregnant, but he saw and he weaved all of my losses and the journey into a redemptive ministry. Today, I can't even believe it that I get to share my story and point people to his word to have intimacy with him. And I'm very blessed. My daughter now is 51. She has six kids. She only lives a half hour from me. Two girls, four boys. The two girls are married. And actually the one beautiful thing in Florida, my oldest granddaughter, Emily, lives in the same area where we come. And she has three little boys. I have three great grandsons. They all call me Grandma. They all accept me, and, and, you know, we have just a. A really nice friendship. That's what I'll call it, a very nice friendship today. And it's also been a learning curve. She has taught me a lot about what it feels like to grow up being adopted. You know, she's given me books to read, and so she's been educating me. And I don't know, we. I don't know what the future holds, but we are very blessed to know each other now.

[25:19 -> 25:33] Speaker 2: When, when you two first met, were you both open to having a relationship, having a mother, daughter relationship, or was there still healing? It had to take place. I'm going to specifically say, on coming from her side,

[25:34 -> 28:42] Speaker 1: yes, that is a very fair question to ask. Being the birth mother on my side, I put no pressure on her because I, I gave up that right. I was not her mother, you know, I was her birth mother, but I was a mother of four kids. I know what's involved in parenting. So I would have never tried to steal from her parents what they rightfully earned and were to her. So there were no expectations for her to love me like I loved her. And in a way, you think about it, I. I can't expect my own children to love me like I love them, you know, it's just how it is, you know? And so I always, no, I put no pressure on her because I did not want to steal from her, nor could I. Also, what was part of the interest, what was interesting about our Story was she was raised what we call in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Eastern Conference, Mennonite, very conservative. The cape dress, the head covering, the black stockings, black shoes. And so that was kind of a, a protective thing for her. I. So I didn't even know if she would accept me, to be honest, because I'm not meant. I'm a Christian, a follower of Jesus, but I'm not a part of that culture, so to speak. And so I know from the book she's given me to read that it would, she did tell me she probably would have never looked for me because it would have felt like betrayal to her parents. And so we, our relationship has been very slowly growing at her pace, and she was busy with six children, and they didn't always live near me, so there's sometimes I couldn't go see them. But I just really tried to respect her parents. I assured her parents that there was no threat coming from me that they were her parents. And so what's going to be interesting now, actually, I just flew home last weekend because her mother passed away and her dad passed away five months before. So technically she has lost her parents, but I'm still here. And I don't know what that will mean for our relationship. But again, I always come back to. I just trust God in His way, his timing, he will reveal. And I, I let her guide our relationship. I don't know. Did I answer those questions?

[28:42 -> 28:59] Speaker 2: No, you, you did. I. I mean, you know, I think there's no one better to, to answer this than, than you. And so I would say for someone who is, is facing an unplanned pregnancy right now, what would you say to them? But what would you also say to the parents?

[29:02 -> 33:00] Speaker 1: Well, I'm going to start with the parents, I think, because my parents, especially my dad, this is really for the dad right here. Because my dad never shamed me. He never said, how could you do this to us? You knew better, we taught you better. Never anything that would make me feel shame or condemnation. He loved me. He cried with me, he prayed with me, he walked beside me. He went to my doctor's appointments. He was an example, an earthly example of my heavenly Father. And because of his response, I feel it's why I've been able to always accept God's unconditional love for me. I mean, I've messed up some big times, like in big ways that have hurt other people. And it's harder to forgive yourself sometimes, you know? You know, God forgives you, but you can't forgive yourself. And my dad's response really paved the way for me to accept God's forgiveness, no matter what I've done in my life, and know that I really am loved. And obviously this applies to the mother, too. But I think from a daughter's perspective, the father's response is more significant, even, you know, than the mother's response. That's just my personal opinion from the person who finds themselves pregnant and it's unplanned. Looking back and all the books that TWY has given me to read, I, I would never, first of all, tell a girl what to do. You know, I always say pray, always ask God for the wisdom because he knows everything. But from a practical standpoint and my personal experience, I would encourage young girls who find themselves pregnant if they have support, family support, and they have a way to provide for that child. I think it's probably in the best interest to keep your child if you have positive reinforcement, but if you don't, then the best gift you can give your child is to find a beautiful Christian home to place that child in. And like I said today, adoption is so different than when I did it. It was just, they were all closed back in the day. And I don't know which is better closed or open or what. But at the end of the day, if you are an adoptive parent, then I say, you always want a heart that says what is best for my child that I have adopted. And you should never feel threatened if that child wants to meet their parent, because ultimately most adopted children have that deep desire, but they don't feel they can share it with their parents because they don't want to hurt their parents because their parents adopted them. You know, they don't want to hurt them. And so openness is so important in talking about it. If you're in that situation as adopted parent or you're adopted, they're just good communication, I feel, is important and where at the end of the day, you want what's best for that child.

[33:03 -> 33:41] Speaker 2: Anita, thank you so much for being on, on the show today. I want to, I want to like with a Let Them Know segment, I want to ask you this question because, you know, there could be somebody listening going through this exact same thing right now. So. And I know you touched on it, but in the process of, of going through the, the adoption, what was your own, like, what specific things to make sure that you were healed and okay in that journey? I know you said you were married, you had other kids, but what, what was your specific healing journey look like? What things did you do. To continue. To just obviously continue to see God and stay rooted in Christ. But what did your own healing journey look like?

[33:43 -> 35:43] Speaker 1: I would say, looking back, the most important thing for healing was not being afraid to share with others. Like when it was her birthday, that would be really hard. That would be a hard day for me every year. So I would reach out to my friends and say, hey, this is hard for me today. Will you pray with me? Or let's go do something, you know? But transparency and honesty, I feel, is a very important element to finding healing. You cannot heal yourself. You need God, of course, and his Word, and you need others. So that's. I've honestly talking about it. I. I sometimes tell people, I. You know, I have shared my story thousands of times publicly. And it's interesting how at certain points, I get choked up. I'm not trying it. I don't plan it, but I had someone once come up to me late and saying, aren't you healed yet? And I remember thinking, well, you don't ever really. I don't know, do you really heal a hundred percent from a significant loss? Like if your child died in an accident, do you find complete healing in that? I. I can't imagine that you do because of the loss. It is a huge loss. Obviously, time helps, but I. I'm very sensitive now to people who have lost a child. I will always. I'm not afraid to ask them, how are you doing? Not afraid to ask them, an honor. Oh, today's your child's birthday. I miss him, you know, to allow them to talk about it, because that brings healing to them. So to me, that's the most important thing, is being transparent and honest with others.

[35:45 -> 35:49] Speaker 2: Sister, thank you so much for being on here today. Would you mind praying this out before we get out of here?

[35:49 -> 35:54] Speaker 1: No. And thank you for calling me sister, because you're my brother. There

[35:54 -> 35:55] Speaker 2: we go. There we go.

[35:55 -> 39:07] Speaker 1: All right. Thank you, Eric. Father, you are so, so good. And out of gratitude for all that you've done for us, we just invite you into our world, into our life. We know that you love us, and we love you. And there's many things that come into our life that are scary, and we know that fear is not of you. Perfect love, cast out fear. And so I pray for whoever's hearing this podcast today who might be relating to any part of my personal journey, that first of all, that fear would disappear in their life, in their heart, and that you could replace that fear with a confident expectation of your goodness. Because at the end of the day. That's what happens when we trust you, when we trust in you to take care of every part of the situation we may be in. You are good and we don't always see the answer right way, right away, but always you are faithful and we can stand on that. So I just ask Holy Spirit, for anyone who's pregnant right now and listen to this, that they would turn to you and look to you for wisdom and discernment, that they would open up the scripture, that they would pray and talk to you and that you would guide them every step of the way. And for that birth parent who might be listening, who hasn't met that child and they're afraid, maybe they've bought into the lie that I can't reach out to this child because then I'm going to have to tell other people about it. Lord, give them courage to step out if they feel you're leading them that way. And then, Lord, for the beautiful couples who have adopted children, may they always rest in the fact that you placed that child in their arms and that you have equipped them to be the best parent that they can be. And I just pray, Lord, that there can be honesty and transparency even though it can be hard in the triangle I guess I will call of adoption the birth mom and the adopted child. We thank you for the beauty that you have adopted us and that you have given us a way to know you through your written word. And may together as your children, may we seek you and find you and walk in the joy of the life that you've called us to in Jesus name, Amen.

[39:07 -> 39:33] Speaker 2: And Father, I just want to thank you right now, Lord. I want to thank you for just using us how you see fit. I pray you continue to expand Anita's territory. She just continues to share her testimony to be light and salt to, to those are who are around her. Father But I pray that you just continue to just bring healing to her and, and her family in your time and how you see fit.

[39:33 -> 39:34] Speaker 1: Father

[39:34 -> 39:49] Speaker 2: Lord, I pray that this situation, we know that you, you don't let anything go, go to waste. Father So I thank you that you are going to use this situation to how you see fit to, to just bring honor, glory and praise to your name, Lord.

[39:49 -> 39:50] Speaker 1: And

[39:50 -> 40:09] Speaker 2: Lord, I pray for that person listening who wants to give their heart to you as you're knocking their the door of their heart right now, that they are just currently turning away from their sins and their shortcomings, they're asking for forgiveness, that they're recognizing you as their Lord and Savior, they're recognizing you as the Son of God. That you were born, that you were crucified, that you. That you die, that you rose again.

[40:10 -> 40:10] Speaker 1: And

[40:10 -> 40:24] Speaker 2: they want more of the Jesus that we have talked about on this episode. Father so I pray for anyone who's given their lives to you and I thank you for that celebration that's taking place in heaven right now. But I pray that they are, that they are just seeking you right now, Father,

[40:24 -> 40:24] Speaker 1: that

[40:24 -> 40:58] Speaker 2: they are just weeping in joy and they feel the freedom and just, and just how light it is to. To give their heart to you. So I thank you that that is, that is taking place at anyone at the, at the sound of my voice who doesn't know you, but who now knows you, Lord. Lord, I thank you for, for anyone who's even listening who. This brought confirmation. They should go adopt a child. Father so I pray that you continue to give further wisdom, further clarity, and any other confirmation that they may need. We just pray and ask these things. In Jesus name, Amen.

[40:58 -> 40:59] Speaker 1: Amen.

[41:00 -> 41:10] Speaker 2: If you have been enjoying our content, please like, follow, share and subscribe to the Rooted in Christ podcast. We are in all major podcast platforms. Anita, thank you so much for being on here today. I really appreciate it.

[41:10 -> 41:12] Speaker 1: Thank you, Eric. I loved it. Thank you.