Restoration

  At the age of 33 I met my father.
It was after the death of both my adopted parents, that I chose to seek out my biological family. After exhausting every earthly possibility of finding my birth family, I finally gave the job to my heavenly one. A group of friends prayed with me, on a Tuesday evening, that I would be reunited with my biologicals. On Friday evening my phone rang. It was my biological brother! He had been given the assignment of looking for me, by my father.  In just three days the power of prayer accomplished what three years of my own labor could not.
 During the next four years I would not only meet my father but several of my siblings. (I am one of seven!) At our initial encounter, Poppa tried to apologize and explain why he gave me up. There was no need for it. In my heart I knew that God had a purpose and plan, for the directions, on the road map of my life. For me, our new relationship was a gift to treasure, with no worries about the past. Our relationship grew and I believe he truly loved me and did everything he could to express that love to me.
 It was during that time that something else wondrous happened. Poppa was an artist, living and working in Southern California. He ran a gallery in Los Angeles, called Goldfield Galleries. Not only was Poppa a brilliant artist, he was also one of the foremost restoration artists in the country. People brought him pieces from all over, to have restored. One of those pieces was in really pitiful condition. The client that brought it to Poppa did not even want to pay the $1500 cost of having it restored. He offered the painting to Poppa for $1500, saying, "If you think it is worth it, I'll sell it to you." At that time Poppa did not even have the money to purchase the piece. He borrowed $750 from his business partner and paid the rest.
 As the process of proper restoration began, Poppa realized there was actually another painting under the one he was restoring. When his work was complete, a stunning jewel was revealed. Ballerinas! Degas was the first word that came to mind. Poppa sent the painting to the Metropolitan Museum, in New York, for authentication. Assuring him that it was indeed a Degas, the Met promptly purchased the work from Poppa for 1.5million dollars.
 During the next few years Poppa spent almost all of his profit from that sale.... Some of it on me. I would receive several lovely treasures in the mail from him. A beautiful antique vase... A tiny bronze statue. He also brought me to California to spend precious time with him.
Poppa's health began to decline and he died in 1997, of complications from lung cancer.  In total I had five years to get to know him. During that time he came to know our Heavenly Father as I do. Poppa accepted Jesus before he went to be with Him. I was blessed to be a part of that  'restoration'. My earthly father to my Heavenly One.

In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1Peter 5:10