When my daughter was born, it was inconvenient. Her life, in turn, seemed inconvenient too.

She was abandoned at birth by her biological mother, and that was inconvenient.

She was born at only 27 weeks old, and that was inconvenient.

She had a stroke, and that was inconvenient.

The stroke affected her brain, which caused for her to have cerebral palsy. That was inconvenient, especially as an orphan in Ukraine. An orphan with a disability.

She lived at an orphanage for almost four years, and that was inconvenient.

The emotional, physical, and financial strain to get to her was – also – inconvenient.

But there is one truth that inconvenience will never erase, will never overpower.

My daughter’s life is not inconvenient. My daughter’s life is valuable. She is precious. Loved. She is wanted.

Inconvenience is crushed to the ground. She is worth more than any inconvenience we had to go through to get to her. any inconvenience that affected our check book. any inconvenience as we spend hours in clinics and hospitals helping her physically or emotionally.

I cannot go back and erase the first four years of her life. But now, while she is mine, I will remind her that I am her mother. I will stand by her, I will believe in her, I will push her even when she wants to give up. I will cheer her on. I will celebrate her life.

She is not and will never be inconvenient. She is a gift, a treasure, and a blessing. She is loved.