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Family
Spotlight
Trusting Their Future to
Helping Hands
by
Becky Cooper
 We’ve
all had moments when things come together in an almost unbelievable
way, when events that could never have been predicted, let alone
controlled, seem to guide us along our path. Famous psychologist
Carl Jung called this phenomenon “synchronicity.” These
moments flow together as though woven together by hidden hands.
Gwen Canady embraces a life of synchronicity. At 37, Gwen had only
three items left on her life goals list - visit Africa, buy a house
and adopt a child. After canceling her trip because of terrorist
activity, she focused on the final two items and bought a house.
With Africa and a new home checked off, Gwen began the adoption
process and dreamed of her future daughter, but those helping hands
brought Kevin into her life.
“God chose my boys. I never wanted boys—only girls,”
she laughs, and now she would not have it any other way.
Gwen’s father, a Baptist minister, raised her to know that
her biggest decisions were not hers to make. When Kevin decided
he was ready for a sibling, Gwen told him to put that decision in
God’s hands as well.
For two years Kevin prayed that he would be blessed with a sibling.
Gwen sat and watched him say the same prayer each night, and the
day her Spaulding for Children caseworker called about a waiting
child, Gwen knew the helping hands were saying it was time.
“Adopting wasn’t so much a decision as it was a calling,”
she reflected.
The tiny Florida community where she grew up had a long history
of helping children, and Gwen gives credit to that nurturing environment
for teaching her to care for needy children. It was God’s
way, she says, of preparing her heart for the adoption of her own
children.
Being the single mother of two boys does not concern Gwen. “It’s
not that it’s effortless, but it’s not a struggle,”
Gwen says with a smile.
Kevin became Gwen’s son almost nine years ago when he was
one, and Darrell joined the family almost four years ago when he
was two. Gwen was told Kevin had autistic tendencies, and Darrell
suffered from reactive attachment disorder. Rather than let medication
rule the boys’ lives, Gwen involves them in tennis and track
and other activities that develops their self-control and discipline.
“Things were tough for a while,” recalling the hectic
schedule she had as a new mother. “I wanted to be there for
my boys, and with the therapies, sports and activities, there just
wasn’t time for a typical job, so I resigned.”
Gwen went from a six-figure income to not knowing how she was going
to earn a living, but the helping hands prepared Gwen for this job
change years earlier. Gwen used her accounting and business skills
to start a consulting firm. Now Gwen works out of her home and is
there when Kevin and Darrell need her.
The job change made a profound difference. Kevin is active in sports
and is doing well at school. Darrell’s teachers don’t
call Gwen as often, and while he is still in therapy, his improvements
are proof that a mother’s determination can move mountains.
“She is so proud of those boys,” says Darlene Willis,
the family’s post adoption case manager. “Gwen recognized
their potential before anyone else did, and she does everything
she can to help them succeed.”
Gwen knows she is not alone in raising her family. Besides friends
and family, Kevin and Darrell lovingly refer to Kevin’s foster
parents as Grandma and Poppa. Gwen also is passing on what her father
taught her - to trust in the same helping hands that canceled trips,
created business opportunities and answered Kevin’s prayers
to bring them all together.
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Questionaire
