My Precious Gift From God

by Michelle Ezernack
(Fresno, CA)

I'll never forget January 31, 2000. That was the day I picked up my 10 year old foster son from Child Protective Services.

He came to me after being in the system for nearly 6 years. After numerous foster homes, this poor baby had bundles of fears and insecurities.

After a year of being part of the family we agreed upon legal guardianship, only to find a family member decided to fight it and 7 months later he left our home.

Our relationship continued with visits, phone calls and lots of love. A year and a half after leaving our home he got into drugs & crime. By the age of 15 he was addicted to Methamphetamines.

By the age of 17 he was a father. He'd been to juvenile hall a few times for theft, and later entered the adult correctional facilites. All the while, we remained close. I tried everything to help and with each passing day my pain grew worse and my love got stronger.

At the age of 20 after being released from jail his Meth addiction escalated to a dangerous and crime stricken level. In 2010 he encountered all the effects Meth will do to a person. Again, my love only grew stronger.

We battled together, I fought in prayer for his soul while he fought against everything that would free him. It wasn't until December 1, 2010 that he began to hear the voice of God.

While sitting in an institution for 4 felonies, he began to cry out to God. Within moments he was transformed. I have heard a million times over "mom, I promise I'm going to change this time", but never like I hear it now. It is real, it is true...it is a miracle.

Now with all the obstacles out of the way I am going to adopt him. At the age of 21!! There my son sat in a jail crying saying "you're going to be my mommy for reals".

Adoption is more than just a paper and age doesn't matter.....the timing is perfect for us both and it is a declaration of our love, devotion and respect to each other and I couldn't be more happy and proud to call him MY SON!!!! Praise God.