If the echoing theme in the first half of Born to Deliver, was loneliness, the second half is indisputably adoption.
Kathy Brace’ story opens with the agonizing birth of her first child when she is fifteen years old. Within hours, her son was stripped from her arms and given up for adoption. Her young heart had already been abused by neglect from her own family; suddenly even her own child was taken from her. The story continues through years of Kathy’s life, years filled with illicit relationships, abandonment, drinking, abortion and physical abuse.
Kathy’s deepest longing was to have a happy family of her own, a place of innate belonging. At the age of twenty, she married Mike hoping that her dream would come true. When their daughter, Brandi was born, she dared to believe. In an effort to create the perfect image, the family began to go to church. Kathy even found herself teaching Sunday school. There, the love of God wrapped itself around her as she read the lessons to the children.
Kathy and Mike’s marriage continued to be rocky for several years. The church served as a bandaid for their relationship’s wounds. But their attendance was simply the right thing to do; Jesus had not yet won her heart.
A revival came to their church in the fall. Out of curiosity, Kathy and her sister-in-law attended the morning sessions for women. She distinctly recalled the preacher teaching on 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Therefore if any man is in Christ he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
“Why had no one told me this before?” Kathy wondered. Her own efforts to put the past behind her and create a new, happy family were failing. Could this Jesus really be the answer? “This mercy and grace from God that the preacher kept referring to, were they real?” (pg. 87)
Kathy surrendered her life to Jesus that week. Immediately, He began working in her heart and life, removing old habits like fits of rage and smoking. Steadily, He filled her with hope. That hope carried her through the tragic circumstances yet to come.
Over the next couple years, the Brace family learned that one of their daughters was hearing impaired, Kathy broke her hip during a water skiing accident and Mike gave up on their marriage. At the same time, their daughters were rebelling and her home was falling apart.
“And yet the same thing that brought me the greatest pain and suffering – both physically and emotionally – I would also come to recognize as the greatest expression of God’s rich mercy and love for me.” (pg. 126)
Born to Deliver, is a story of deliverance, new life, budding hope and adoption. After God adopted Kathy into His family, He daily gave her the grace and strength to press on through painful circumstances. He used the ruins of her old life as the foundation for her new life in Him.
When Mike left, Kathy was still in a wheelchair recuperating from her accident. With limited mobility, she found herself frequently alone with her Bible. There she poured over God’s word for hours at a time, drinking it in. When she was back on her feet again, she knew exactly what God had created her to do.
Kathy and her daughters opened a midwifery clinic in Wichita, KS. They began to travel all over the state assisting with deliveries and building up families. Many times, their fledgling business barely paid the bills. However, over and over God miraculously provided exactly the money and things they needed.
There is a beautiful circle of life in Kathy Brace’s story. From a lonely little girl who gave her son up for adoption, God grew her into a woman of faith using her skills to bless families and bring new lives in the world.
