Testimony of Healing June 30, 2003 ISSUE

'Finally, I belonged'

Jodie Swales

When I was 17, my parents told me I was adopted. It was quite a shock. I was very upset, and I felt as if I didn't belong. Even though my parents are the most loving people you could ever hope to find, I began to question where I belonged. This was a feeling I had on and off for a number of years.

Mostly I felt as if I belonged by myself—where people couldn't hurt me. I had always been very sensitive to people's comments and often took offense over innocent remarks. I often felt I was searching to belong to someone. Some years later I made contact with my birth parents to let them know what a wonderful life I've had with my adoptive parents. When I was with my birth parents, I had moments when I felt that I belonged, but these were fleeting and disappointment would follow.

At one time, a wonderful friend of mine said to me, "You don't have to belong to anyone. You belong to God." But I didn't understand that at the time.

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