He sat nervously in a train booth, staring out the window and wondering what the next few days would hold. At 19 years old, David Scotton was about to meet his birth parents for the first time.

But there was a twist.

Sitting directly across from him in the booth was Philip Braun, a filmmaker, with a camera in his hands to capture what was happening as it unfolded in real time.

“I always did wonder why they put me up for adoption,” said David. “I’m definitely scared of them coming into my life and not fitting into what kind of life I had.”

Watch the full documentary, “I Lived on Parker Avenue,” below. It’s 30 minutes long, but definitely worth it!

I won’t give away what comes next because I recommend you watch the documentary for yourself, but I will offer some of the thoughts I had after watching it.

First and foremost, don’t overlook the beauty of what many call “the adoption option.” While it’s certainly not easy, I can assure you God can bring so much joy, goodness and life out of a difficult situation. David’s story is living breathing proof of this.

Second of all, remember that, in most cases, mothers who choose adoption for their children are NOT doing it out of selfishness or apathy. Quite the opposite is true! They do it because they love their child so much that they’re willing to let go (and let God). It truly is a selfless gift from the mother to the child.

As another example, my cousin, Sara Sterling, chose adoption for her eldest child, Carson. While it was one of the hardest experiences she’s lived through, she will tell you without a doubt it was more than worth it to give him the kind of life he deserved.

“God gave me the strength to give someone the most precious gift I could have ever had. Carson is blessed with amazing parents who know how much he means to me. God is good, and when you listen to his plan and follow through, you will be blessed.”

Sara Sterling

One last thought – today, David Scotton is thriving in the life his birth mother, Melissa, allowed him to have. He has two wonderful parents, Jimmy and Susan, who love him just the same as if he was their biological son, and as a bonus, he now has a relationship with both his birth parents and biological siblings. He’s an attorney in the Greater New Orleans area, and he also does speaking engagements that share his adoption story all over the country. There is even a movie, Lifemark, that was made based on the documentary about his story (great movie I also highly recommend watching).

Think about it – God had planned David’s story all along. Thanks to one completely selfless decision, look how many blessings resulted. That’s what it looks like to follow God’s plan, instead of our own will.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

– Psalm 139:16-17