How Can I Find God? Beth’s Story: A Gift of Life

Do you wonder, ‘How do I find God?’ Here’s how Beth did . . . after first being given the chance to live!

By Beth Willis Miller:

 “I was conceived on Memorial Day, almost aborted on Columbus Day, and given up for adoption on Valentine’s Day.”

The ship, Princess Irene, brought my maternal grandparents, Olympio and Vincenza from Scontrone, Italy to New York on August 30, 1906. She was 16 years old, he was 22, and they were on their way to live with cousins in Chicago.

They married and had a daughter, Lydia, in 1911. Then in 1952, Lydia at age 41, during a Memorial Day holiday get-away weekend with a gentleman, became pregnant with me.

When she realized she was pregnant, she told the gentleman and he was unwilling to help her. Her mother, Vincenza, did not want her daughter, a single mother at age 41, to disgrace her family with an illegitimate child, so Lydia left Chicago to live with a relative in Miami, Florida.

In October, around the time of Columbus Day, she went to a back-alley abortionist to abort me, but when the abortionist examined Lydia and realized she was over 4 months pregnant, he told her the abortion might kill her, and he refused to do it. Lydia stayed in Miami until February of 1953, having made arrangements with the Salvation Army hospital in Jacksonville to give me up for adoption. On Friday the 13th, she gave birth to me and signed the papers giving me up for adoption on Valentine’s Day 1953.

Then I found my value in Jesus.

I believe there are no accidents and every conception and every birth is part of God’s Sovereign Plan. I rest and find comfort in this life verse: Psalm 139:15-16:

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

I was adopted by loving, Christian parents. I grew up in church, active in Sunday school and missions organizations. I prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 10.

I am married and have two young adult children and one grandson. I obtained a Master’s Degree in education. After serving in various teaching and supervisory positions, I was selected as the state consultant for gifted education programs by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee, and later as executive director of a nonprofit education center. I grow closer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word.

Beth Willis Miller, M.Ed. is a co-author of  Under His Wings: Truths to Heal Adopted, Orphaned, and Waiting Children’s Hearts (Volume 1). Beth is a creative and critical thinking specialist and educator who lives with her husband, Jack, in  Lakeland, Florida. Visit her at her Blog, on Facebook  or on Twitter.

Are you wondering, “How can I find God?”  If you’d like to walk through questions about faith, and read letters about how God can help you with struggles in everyday life, visit  GodTest.com.