The Waiting - A Touching True Story of One Mother's Unwavering Love

The Waiting – A Touching True Story of One Mother’s Unwavering Love

I remember the early days of being a new mom. The soft skin of my newborn son, his soft cooing, the smell of his breath. It was like Heaven. It was the beginning of a new adventure. I cannot begin to fathom the sorrow that would envelope me if I had to hand my newborn child over to be adopted, with no hope of ever seeing him again. How would I go on? How big would the hole in my heart be? The Waiting is the true story of a young and innocent girl named Minka who has to give up her child after she was sexually assaulted in 1929. It is an incredible story that will have you turning the pages in anticipation and reaching for the tissue box.

Many times in my life I have felt like I have really grown to love a character from a work of fiction. I have even felt silly when I cried over their imaginary hardships and challenges. However, the story of Minka Disbrow is true and because it is so incredible I had to keep reminding myself that it is a true story. In the year before the Great Depression began, a young Minka was approached near a lake by strangers while taking a walk with a friend. One of the men raped her and she became pregnant. Minka was 16 and had lived a very sheltered and traditional upbringing and she still believed the stork brought babies. She was confused and did fully understand what had happened to her. Her experience was truly tragic and it left a lifetime of echoes. A few months later her pregnancy was confirmed and arrangements were made to send her away where she could have the baby in secret. After a tearful goodbye, Minka had to part with her firstborn daughter but she never forgot her.

For years Minka sent letters inquiring about her daughter to the head of the home for girls where she had stayed. She asked for updates and even included details about her own life. These letters continued for years and she never forgot her baby, who she called Betty Jane. The Waiting is the story of one mother’s selfless love and her lifetime of hope and prayers for her daughter. It will move you and touch your heart. Just read this excerpt illustrating the long-awaited and seemingly impossible reunion between Minka and her firstborn daughter. Amazing!

This story was one of the most beautiful examples I can remember of God trading beauty for ashes and also of Romans 8:28 which says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The tragic rape that changed a teenaged girl’s life forever and caused her the great pain of losing her child resulted in a baby being adopted who grew into a mother of six named Ruth. Ruth’s children include an astronaut, teachers, a business owner, a West Point graduate – a family of great accomplishments.

Minka and Ruth’s story is your story and mine in a way. We all understand family love and bonds that cannot be broken by distance or circumstance. Watch these two woman share their story in their Today Show interview (but grab the tissue first).

Every mother, daughter, and granddaughter should read The Waiting. Read it and then pass it along to someone else. This story of tragedy, selflessness, hope, and love should be shared with someone you love.

Disclosure: I received a copy of “The Waiting” from Tyndale House Publishers for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

The Waiting – A Touching True Story of One Mother’s Unwavering Love

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