Down Gilead Lane, Season 12 | Episode 1

A HOPE BY ANY OTHER NAME

Season Description

Since we first heard from the Morrison family on a quiet road in a small town, we’ve come a long way. Kids have grown up, graduated, and moved away from home. New members have joined the family. This season , find out who’s behind Peace of Heaven, how Monica Richter can get herself out of the mess she’s in, and what significant life choices are made. Find out what happens when the pieces of the puzzle ultimately fall into place in Coleraine.

Today’s Story

Hope was just adopted by the Morrison family, but is struggling with knowing how to act like Hope in a Morrison world. It’s a lesson about being who God made you to be no matter what.

How About You?
Have you ever felt like you couldn’t be yourself because the real you didn’t seem to fit in?

Check This Out…
Hope didn’t know that taking the Morrison last name didn’t mean she had to change who she was. Hope definitely was glad that she was a part of something new and was ready to get rid of her old name, and even call John and Mary “Dad” and “Mom” right away.

But along with these changes, Hope thought she had to act more “Morrison.” To her, this meant she had to be smarter, speak several languages, and talk more properly. What Hope didn’t know, however, was that the Morrisons liked Hope just as she was before she was adopted and didn’t expect her to “be more Morrison” when she took their last name.

It’s a lot like what happens when kids or adults choose to accept Christ as their Savior. They become God’s kids and begin to choose better things that glorify Him, but that doesn’t mean they become a whole different person with a new personality. God made us just the way we are with our different quirks and passions, and he delights in that.

It says in Psalm 18:19, He [The Lord] brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. God delights in who we are. In Psalm 139:13-14 it says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. We are made uniquely and with purpose.

What’s more, like Mary and John said in today’s episode, God wants us to have different roles and purposes in this world. (1Corinithians 12:12-31) When we live out those roles, we give something new to the family of Christ. Likewise, Hope can offer something unique to the Morrison family when she does what she does best: Be herself.

So next time you feel discouraged and try to hide who you are because you don’t think that the people around you will like the real you, just remember that who you are is special, and your being there might give someone a gift simply because you are you.