From Sadness to Joy

Abraham and Sarah waited until Sarah was 90 years old. Isaac and Rebekah waited for 20 years and Jacob and Rachel for 14. Waiting on God to bring children is particularly difficult and confusing, especially because every single month there is a reminder of what feels like failure and hopelessness. Kelly Wilson describes the pain of infertility as “belonging to a club you never wanted to be in.” 

Del and Kelly Wilson started trying to have children in 2013. After a diagnosis for Kelly of PCOS and endometriosis, and after many failed fertility treatments, they were heartbroken and discouraged.  

However, in November of 2016, Kelly was attending Bible Study Fellowship when a woman in her class shared her family’s adoption story. Kelly began to get chills as she listened to the narrative, and she knew right then that adoption was the right path for her and Del. She described the heart transformation she had that day: “Instead of being sad and disappointed, I felt hope, peace, and full confidence in God.  I’ve never felt more certain about anything.” For Del, he didn’t have that immediate conviction, so he began to research, consider, and pray about the possibility. As he observed the supernatural change in Kelly’s demeanor, he too became convinced that adoption was God’s calling for them.  On their GoFundMe page, Del posted, “After much prayer and lots of meeting with friends and family who have gone through the adoption process, we feel the Lord is leading us to grow our family by adopting a newborn.”

As it is for most families, the Wilsons’ adoption process was long and arduous. Del and Kelly went through the full licensing process in Tennessee only to have to start over again when they moved to Texas. Soon after finding Church at the Cross, they got plugged into the Life Group of Ray and Megan Clark (another adoptive family). As they continued to wait for a baby, Kelly also connected with Bev Donaldson, who had walked a similar road of infertility and adoption in the past. Bev says, “Having walked that journey, I was humbled to come alongside and support Kelly through personal experience, understanding, and prayer. We share a strong bond and are blessed beyond measure in how God meets needs through those that have walked a similar journey.”

Finally, on November 10, Del and Kelly got word that they might have an adoption match. Baby Luke, their new son, had been born the day before on November 9, 2019, National Adoption Day! Adoption isn't God's path for everyone. The patriarchs and matriarchs of our faith mentioned at the beginning of our story eventually did conceive as a gift from God. Some of us may never have children, whether adopted or biological, but we lean on God's promises. We know God promises that he has the highest good planned for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Even so, our church community rejoices in the way God brought Del, Kelly, and Luke together as a family, reminding us of how our good Father adopted us into His family as sons and daughters.