Two years later, mom and dad went back to Catholic Charities to start the process of adopting another child. Mom was going through all the tests, and they came back and said that they were not eligible to adopt another child at that time. Tears flowed, emotions took over, and after mom and dad settled down, they asked “why”? The response came, “because you are pregnant!” And from there, Colleen Lynch entered the picture, ruining Tim Jr’s chances of being spoiled in life as an only child!
Many years later, Tim and Colleen both married and started their own families. Tim had some genetic issues that he had to battle through his life. He is a shorter guy, who was exceptional in the martial arts, and excelled in EVERYTHING he did, from his career in medical sales, to becoming a private pilot. He excelled at the challenges that life threw at him. His wife, Stefanie decided one day to get a DNA kit from “23 and Me” to see what other health issues might be lingering genetically, as when he was adopted, they didn’t really know much about where I came from, other than my biological benefactors were both in college, got pregnant, but were not married. She decided to give the baby up for adoption, as she knew she would not be able to provide the life that the baby needed. That is really the only information that they were given. About 6 weeks or so later, my DNA test results came back. And I could not believe what the results were! In the space that mentioned where my blood line comes from, it said Ireland…. Sneem and Cahrseveign!!! Yes….I have the same lineage as my parents, grandparents on my father’s side, and great grandparents on my mother’s side!
In life, we all go through struggles. We have major setbacks, challenges, heart breaks, hurt, failures, major successes, trials, tribulations, etc. Sometimes we never know why we exist, and we start challenging these thoughts. It is often said, and my mom (Lorraine) said this all the time…”If you want to hear God laugh, tell him what your plans are!” This is a perfect example of two individuals, who struggled with their identity in the world, thinking they wanted one direction for themselves independent of each other, going two different directions, then coming back together again in a different capacity. Both extremely stoic in their faith in God, and put complete trust in Him, that he would lead them wherever He needed them to be, passing that faith on to my sister and me!
Sometimes in life, it is very difficult to see the “roadmap” of where life is taking us, through the struggles, the hard times, the good times, the successes and failures. They ALL happen for a reason. God leads us down paths and roads that we question “why are you doing this to me?” The book of Job is a prime example of some of those questions, challenges, questioning God, being angry with God, asking “why are you doing this to me?” However, if we slow down, take a few steps back and look at the paths one has been brought down, you can see exactly where God leads us, and the reasons why! It is never wrong to be angry with God or question Him or ask Him why. The very notion of those instances reinforces the fact that you believe he exists, that you talk to him, that he is there…even though sometimes quiet. He is holding us and guiding us, even though we may not notice.
God was directing mom and dad (Tim and Lorraine) LONG before they ever knew each other. He was helping them solidify their faith in Him, training them for a task that He needed them to fulfil, the task of adopting a 2 week old baby boy who was only an image in His eye at that time, who would be leaving a home where he could not be cared for, to be put into a home built on faith and love, and was taught to put that faith and love into a greater being, God and His Son, Jesus Christ, to be a successful man with his own family, who also adopted Delilah Lynch out of a horrible situation….much like the children who were discarded, not wanted and put in a home on the corner of Poplar and McClean in Memphis, Tennessee.
God has a plan! We never know what that is! But, put faith in the fact that He is there guiding you through this life through all the unknowns. Don’t be afraid to talk to him. Don’t be afraid to question Him, to ask for answers, to be upset or angry with Him. He is right there the whole time!! Have faith that He will guide you, and one day when you least expect it, that road map that you questioned in your life, will suddenly make sense!
—Tim Lynch, Jr.
