Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Invisible strings tie all of our lives together.”
So began LilyGrace York, a friend of Newton Highlands Congregational Church (NHCC) and summer lay leader, as she spoke on Sunday, July 28, 2024, sharing her inspiring story of adoption and healing.
Ms. York talked about growing up with Christian values, yet feeling lost when she reached young adulthood. As she struggled, she realized she needed to face her past. She had been left at a train station in China at one month old, placed in an orphanage, and then adopted by an American couple at the age of 13 months.
“I needed to transform the trauma from my past and develop new behaviors in order to get new results.” She began a healing journey, using silence, breathing, and meditation to face her discomfort. She also began attending worship at NHCC, encountering a “warm and welcoming environment” and feeling more connected with God.
“Through multiple acts of faith, God led me to a better life,” she concluded. “Have faith, surrender to God, and trust in God’s love.”
Organist Yevgenia Semeina closed the service with Vivaldi’s version of a Bach concerto.