One late night at San Francisco State University, a student named Patrick went to do his laundry and discovered something shocking. A rustling noise led him to a cardboard box in the laundry room, where he found an abandoned infant. Her teenage mother had given birth in secret and left her there, hiding the pregnancy from everyone, including the father. Baby Jillian’s life hung in the balance as her temperature plummeted and her skin turned blue. Miraculously, the right people were in the right place at the right time. Patrick found another student, Esther, who was a nursing student studying newborn care. With her help and the arrival of paramedics, baby Jillian was saved from a tragic fate.
Jillian’s story captured the hearts of many, and she was soon adopted by Sam and Helene Sobol, a loving couple who had been waiting to adopt a baby girl. The Sobols nurtured and encouraged Jillian throughout her life, helping her overcome her learning disabilities and supporting her through her educational journey. They provided her with a stable, loving home, enabling her to grow into a confident and compassionate young woman. They shared her story with her when she turned 16, explaining the circumstances of her birth and emphasizing how much they loved her.
Years later, Jillian enrolled at the very university where she had been abandoned and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management. As she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, she was surrounded by her adoptive family, Esther, and her biological father and his family. Her journey had come full circle, as she found closure and peace with her past, and looked forward to a bright future ahead.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
God has a divine plan for each of us, even when our circumstances seem bleak. In moments of despair or uncertainty, His guiding hand can bring forth blessings and transform our lives. Trust in His love and know that He can make a way even when it seems impossible. His purpose for our lives is often greater than we can imagine, and through our trials, He can shape us into the person He wants us to be.
MY PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your guiding hand in our lives, even when we cannot see Your plan. Help us to trust in Your love, knowing that You can turn our darkest moments into blessings. Give us the strength to persevere through our challenges and the faith to recognize Your presence in our lives. As we journey through this life, help us to remember we are never alone and that Your purpose for us is greater than we can imagine. Amen.
