For me,(Jeff) I would read blogs and want to know the thoughts of what people were going thru during the adoption process- the feelings, not so much the chronological happenings of going and doing on this journey- which are all important, so I want to share my heart and thoughts.
Can a child you can’t even talk too with a different language, captivate a man that has never really been around children ? YES! I wasn’t sure of how I would react as I haven’t known what it’s like to have a child put their love and trust in me, but I do now!
The adoption process for me started 6 or more years ago working with foster children at an event, I remember thinking what wonderful kids these were, that they just needed a chance. Adoption, Foster Care, Orphans are labels with very broad strokes given to children- but when you realize they have a need to be loved, they each have a name, they like to play ball, enjoy coloring and their favorite crayon color is red, they love ice cream and most of all want a Mama and Papa to love them the label turns into reality. Labels desensitize us to not have compassion- Orphan what comes to mind? a faceless child somewhere in the world or in the US- but when I say a “Beautiful 5 year old that loves to hide a blue ball and laughs and laughs, yet in the past has been neglected and malnourished” It strikes something different inside you- I know it did me. I will admit I cried after being at the orphanage the first few days, seeing how the kids are like family to each other and realizing how we are so insulated to the world- we complain about so much in the US- but honestly do we really have problems? Sure our car breaks down, or taxes go up, but we have been blessed in the US - we are a sphere of influence around the world, yet we are probably more self centered and isolated within our self than any other country. But I also know the good of my fellow American’s to give and to help us on our journey.
Some might think that the process of adoption in the Ukraine or any foreign country that you don’t even get to see a picture or information on a child, would be very scary to travel thousands of miles and not know the children your going to adopt. I can only speak for our Family, that when you embark on the adoption journey, each step in the adoption process is in act of building faith to trust God, that the resources and energy will be there when you need it. When you do finally arrive to adopt, the ability to trust God and ask him to lead you to the right children is something your faith has grown to accept as the final act in the journey. Was there a bright light that directed us to a particular file we were shown? Did a voice from heaven say this is the right children? No, (I was hoping!) but part of the faith walk is being led each step not by your emotions or intellect - no matter how much your wanting to make a logical decision, this is a heart decision, to trust in God to lead you to that child. For months I have been led to read Proverbs- 1 chapter each day, so when we landed in Ukraine, I started reading and read this the second day we were here and trust in this when we did make the decision of what children to visit:
Proverbs 2: 6 For the LORD gives wisdom,and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
I once heard Steven Curtis Chapman’s wife Mary Beth, describe the fear of if she could love an adopted child as much as her own children? She explained how It was answered the moment the baby was put in her arms.
I can say the first time our soon to be daughter wanted me too hold her and clung to my neck so tightly that something in my heart was birthed, that I would protect her and if I had to die for her.
I pray that many would not let the labels of adoption, orphan, foster care, scare you away if your being called on this journey also. Pray and ask God what he would have you to do, nothing is too small to help make a difference in a life of a child.
1 comment:
Good post!
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