When 19-year-old Meredith sat down with her “foster parents” for a meeting, she had no clue what was about to take place. She had been living with the young couple for several months after they agreed to take her into their home in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
The scene that was captured on video not only went viral, but it’s also left a lot of people emotional wrecks.
Just because you become an adult in the eyes of the law, doesn’t mean you still don’t need love and guidance. Sadly though, there are plenty of teens that never find their “forever family” before they age out of the foster care system – forcing them to walk a path alone.
Life had not been easy for Meredith. She lost her mother at the age of six, then moved in with her grandparents who took over raising her.
According to THV 11 News, she began making “poor decisions” while under the care of her grandparents, and also at a point when she was living with roommates. But fortunately for Meredith, the Dennis family was there.
Zach and Anna Dennis were both 28-years-old with two very small children of their own. Anna, who’s a teacher, had acted as a mentor for the teen while she was in high school.
Despite having such a new family – Zach and Anna decided to step in and allow Meredith to live with them on a temporary basis. Although they had set up a six-month plan for her, it wasn’t long before they changed their minds about everything…
Zach originally didn’t know Meredith as well as his wife did. However, after a couple of weeks, he developed a love for her straight from God.
Meredith thrived in the care of the Dennis family – and to them, it was incredible to watch.
Zach explained to THV 11 News,
“My heart was broken she had to live that long without parents and anybody would have to go through that. In the last two months, she’s blossomed and it’s amazing to see.”
The couple turned on their video camera and asked Meredith to join them for a discussion. They sat across from the teen who was clueless about what their real goal was for the meeting.
Zach tells her,
“The Lord has just put on my heart, and he’s just given me a love for you.”
He then begins to get choked up as he expresses his true feelings to Meredith.
“I just want you to know that you’re probably one of the most gifted, talented people that I’ve ever seen. You’re brilliant and you’re athletic, and you play instruments and you speak other languages…and you take great care of our babies.”
The next parts are even harder for Zach to relay without becoming weepy. Speaking truly from his soul, he finally gets to the real point of their meeting.
While the three of them hold hands, Zach asks her,
“We want this to be permanent, and we want to adopt you into our family.”
Meredith is so overwhelmed that she bursts into tears and collapses into Anna’s lap. It’s a reaction that’s powerful enough to leave a lump in your throat.
At 19-years-old Meredith had finally found her “forever family” with Zach, Anna, and their two children. It was an indescribable gift that would change the rest of her life.
The video of their adoption “surprise” is so heartwarming and moving that it’s been viewed more than four million times.
Be sure to grab a box of Kleenex before you watch it below.
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