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"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

On Saturday Brooksyne went to a birthday party for Suzanne. The photo shows her singing at her party.

Most every week we greet Suzanne before or after church and Brooksyne visits with her in Shepherd's Class. We enjoy seeing her vibrant smile and hearing about her faith-filled outlook. Suzanne can be unintentionally quite colorful in her inquisitiveness and forthrightness.

I often wear suspenders and she once asked me why I was wearing seat belts. Well, if you think about it there is a resemblance with the shoulder belts! She is aware that Ester has heart problems and asked Brooksyne if the doctors could fix it with a band-aid!

So many have a shaky start in life for a variety of reasons. Suzanne had hers 50 years ago as a Vietnamese orphan born at the end of the Vietnam War. She came to the US in April 1975 to be adopted by an American family as part of a huge humanitarian airlift called "Operation Babylift".

After learning of her origins I recalled seeing the above iconic photo many years earlier. The babies were placed in cardboard boxes and airlifted out of Saigon. Suzanne, at 5 months, was included among the babies and she might even be one of the babies in this above photo.

The story was featured on national and local television stations 50 years ago while the Hauber family was watching. The oldest of the three who was only in kindergarten asked his parents, "Why can't we take one of them?" And that's exactly what this dedicated Christian family did!

Suzanne had so many serious ailments that the first two doctors refused to take her on as a patient so they eventually took her to the hospital where they began to address her serious issues*. Fast forward nearly 50 years and it's hard to believe Suzanne just turned 50 when she appears to be in her 20's! We often see her glowing smile among the church people. She was among the first in the church we attend who introduced herself to us eight years ago by saying, "My name is Suzanne. I was brought here as a baby and I've been here ever since. I love going to church, all spoken with a smile across her face!" The photo to the left was taken about that time. Suzanne stands at about 4'8", thus we often lean down when talking with her.

We all have different starts in life. There are those who had a good start and even some born with the proverbial "silver spoon". Brooksyne and I were both born into loving families. That's an easily taken for granted blessing.

But we know that a good start is not the story for many. Millions of babies are murdered while still in the womb, which many now celebrate in our increasingly decadent age. They had a start at conception but didn't make it through what should be the safest place. Some are born in poverty and/or face abuse. Consider the scourge of human trafficking. Others have significant physical, emotional and mental impairments.

Being in people work we observe and hear so many sad stories of heartbreaking childhoods. I spoke to a man who boasted that he had ten kids by five different women, sharing this as if this were some type of noble accomplishment. This last week I spoke to another man who had eight children to different women. He told me he realized now he hadn’t lived his life as a faithful man and is seeking now to be one.

Ungodly temporal pleasure can inadvertently bring lasting regrets with grave consequences, not just for the primary actors but the innocent lives harmed as a result. Romans 14:7 says, "No one lives unto himself alone".

Doug is a friend of ours we visited for many years prior to his retirement from a company we served for over a decade. He has an interesting quote in each of his emails: "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

That is an expression of 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Working in the brokenness of our world we hear stories like the man with ten children mentioned above who didn't express interest in spiritual things or indicate that he was looking for a new start. But we rejoice to see others such as the man I met last week who expresses a desire to finish well.

Today, like Suzanne, many of you reading this had a shaky start in life and have overcome many obstacles and some will spend the rest of your life overcoming. Jesus is the supreme example of One who overcame the world even to the very end of His life on earth.

Tragically, the majority live in defiance and disobedience to God's commands and are experiencing the consequences. How wonderful and life-changing it is for those who respond to the good news of the redemption story of Jesus Christ who came to seek and save the lost. We may have had a shaky start and can't go back and make a good start, but through the grace of God we can start right now and have a strong finish!

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13