I just read the story The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.

It’s the story of a little crippled lamb named Joshua who always felt left out among the other sheep. One day, when the shepherds decide to take the sheep to the next valley over where there is more grass to eat, Joshua is told that he cannot go because he is crippled and would slow down the rest of the sheep.

Instead, he is told to go to the stable.

While Joshua is in the stable sleeping he is woken up and finds a woman there with her baby lying in the manger. The baby is cold and crying. Joshua gets up and goes over to the mother and baby. He lies down close to the baby to keep him warm.

Soon, much to Joshua’s delight, he discovers he has been keeping a new King warm. The baby is Baby Jesus!

He also finally understands something.

Had he been like the other sheep, he would have been away in the other valley. But since he was different he had been in the stable and been one of the first to welcome Jesus into the world.

This story reminded me so much of myself.

Infertility makes you feel different and left out because friends and family all around you are getting pregnant and having babies with ease and you are not.

Infertility made me go somewhere different than all my friends and family.

Infertility lead me to adoption!

Had I been “out in the valley” I would not have experienced the miracle of adoption and become the mother of this beautiful child:

His Way is perfect.

Being a “cripple” and having infertility certainly isn’t a bad thing at all.

- Elaine