Today’s Miracle Monday is a touching story of family and heritage submitted by Sister KarenJo Pandone.

I just finished reading a Gospel Blog article that I related to very personally. I was reminded of when the Lord explained to me who I was in this world.

I was adopted as a 6-week-old infant and became the daughter of two loving parents who couldn’t have children. Brother Joe and Sister Rose Milantoni raised me in a loving home where I never wanted for anything. I knew from the moment I could understand that I was adopted. They always associated it with a positive twist: “They CHOSE me,” and “God GAVE me to them,” and “I was their ADOPTED sweetheart,” all of which made me feel very special — so much so that I would go up to perfect strangers and proudly announce, “I’m adopted!”

My life was full in every respect. Dad was an evangelist in the Church and extremely active in the Native American work as well as the GMBA. I lived in Muncey, Ontario, and San Carlos, Arizona, where my parents sought to bring the Gospel to God’s chosen people. I was witness to many miracles while in the mission fields. I saw how Dad was instrumental in the start of the Inner City Mission in Detroit, Michigan. The Lord called me into His Church at the young age of 14, and my parents made sure I was at every conference, campout, and church event that we could possibly travel to. My life was full.

At the age of 37, thinking I would never get married, I began to plan for a life alone. I was blessed with a good job, had the love of the saints, and decided that this was enough for me. Once again, the Lord took charge of my life, and I met my husband at a GMBA Campout. After we were engaged, we found out that the brother who initially introduced us was prompted by the Lord to do so. Another brother, while praying for the young people at the upcoming camp, had a dream where he saw my husband and me getting married.

Growing up, I heard people talk about feeling a “connection” to their heritage. This was an aspect of my life that I felt was missing. I knew from adoption papers that I was half Scottish, a quarter English, and a quarter Irish, although I was raised by 100 percent Italian parents. I didn’t feel a connection to any nationality.

Early in our marriage, my husband, Michael, and I visited Canterbury Village here in Michigan with his parents. It was an area dedicated to all things Christmas and had several small buildings that sold many things associated with different nationalities. One of those buildings housed all things Scottish.

I entered thinking, “This is where I’ll find my connection!” I walked around hearing the music, seeing the many items associated with this heritage and looking at all the Clan symbols, waiting to feel that connection. Michael could see that something was troubling me and kept asking if I was OK. I would just nod my head and kept waiting for that connection. Unfortunately, that connection never came for me that day, and I left feeling very empty and unsettled.

That night, as I was preparing for bed, I asked the Lord why I didn’t feel that connection to my heritage. For some reason, this was very important to me.

As I got into bed that night, a very soft voice spoke to my mind, “You are MY child.” Immediately, I felt enveloped in warmth and love. Everything fell into place, and I had my connection. I was a Child of God.

He saw to my every need throughout my life, gave me loving parents who raised me in His Church, and provided a husband who loved the Lord as much as I did.

My “connection” was and is complete. I am the Lord’s child. Yes, I love all the Scottish plaids, have red hair like a true Irish, say sorry a lot as I’m told the English tend to do — and I love my pasta like a true Italian — but my “connection” is with the Lord. And that’s enough for me.

What’s Your Connection?

Did today’s Miracle Monday remind you of an experience in your life where the Lord helped you to feel totally loved and accepted in His family? We’d love to hear about it and share it with other readers. Click here to share with us.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.