Grafted in

This is my baby girl olive. She is 5 years old. She had a sad beginning but you know what? It lead her to our family💕

We drove to Bakersfield when she was only 8 weeks old to adopt her. She was rescued from a terrible back yard breeder. He said she was “damaged” and released her to the rescue group.

By damaged he was referring to her left ear which was severed by her mother accidentally.

The breeder had her mother cooped up in a small kennel the morning of olives birth on a very cold October morning. Three of her siblings somehow moved out of the cage that morning and olives mother did everything she could to save them. They did not survive because of the cold.

Olives ear was cut in the process because her mom was trying to claw her way out of the cage to get to her babies.

Olives beginning was sad but God restored her. She may have lost an ear but she gained a family that adores her. And she would have most likely been bought by a very nice family had she not been injured but I’m so thankful for all the heart lessons God has used her to teach me.

Even if we are wounded or have suffered loss, He has a beautiful story of restoration ahead.

Someone needs you as much as you need them.

There is always hope.

You can be grafted into any family through love.

Some may label us as “damaged”, but Those that are most important say we are more than enough.

I remember the moment I saw olive on an adoption site. She was so little and at first I didn’t even notice her ear was missing. Most people don’t. I saw her and I felt the lord pull on my heart.

Funny to think that God would talk to you about a Dog but He’ll use anything to get our attention. He’s always talking.

I felt he wanted us to adopt her and name her olive. Olive is short for olive branch. There is a story that describes how we as Gentiles have been grafted in like a “wild olive branch” and we now have access to God’s promises. (Romans chapter 11) .

It all seemed a bit far from reach and I only shared what I felt the Holy Spirit was speaking to me to Bryan.

We set out to adopt her on December 28th 2012.. we drove 6+ hours to where she was living. All I had was an address.

We arrived to Bakersfield and It was my first time there.

Do you know what the main road leading to her neighborhood was called????

Olive Branch road?!!! What?!

My heart lept. I had herd from God. We took the left as directed by our map and you know what we saw?!

A HUGE church titled “Olive Branch Church”! And to top it off there was a rainbow off in the distance behind the church. ( rainbows are a sign of Gods promises!)

OK. It was clear. We were exactly where we were meant to be in this little pup was ours. Not because she was cute. But because God had divinely planned for HER to be grafted into her family.

Adopted.

Chosen on purpose

Damaged? Nope. Injured? Yes. But beautifully ours.

So if you feel Damaged, tossed aside, unwanted even. Know that the God of all creation has an extraordinary plan for you. He loves you and you my friend have been chosen on purpose z created for a purpose and He longs to graft you into His family 💕

xo

Dawnya