Well, I had intended to write something a little sooner, but with a sick 4 year old, time got away from me. I wanted to write something about November being Adoption Awareness Month. Obviously this November was a little more special because we brought home a wonderful little girl through adoption.
Adoption, what can I say that can even sum up how wonderful it is. It has blessed us with two wonderful little lives that we would not have had otherwise. There are many children in this world that do not have a home to call their own and go to bed every night praying and hoping that someone would just "choose" them. I have been to the orphanage in Liberia and my heart does ache for these children. Is adoption easy? Absolutely not. Parenting in general is the hardest job you will ever have if you do it right, then you just pray that you raised them right and have taught them well. My mom always said that parenting is the hardest job that you will ever love and she was right. Adoption is no different. The first time I seen each of my children there was a feeling that you just couldn't describe. It was no different from the feeling as when I gave birth to Steven. Each one of our three children have brought something different into our lives. Each one brought something that none of the rest had or could give to our family. Each one, we love unconditionally and would give our lives for without thinking twice. The journey for each of our children has been different but worth everything that we went through, and would do again in a heartbeat! Each struggle along the way and afterward has been worth it too! Each child is special and has their own wonderful qualities (and a couple of qualities that aren't quite so wonderful :)LOL, but hey so do I).
Is adoption for everyone? Probably not. I feel that you truly have to be called and you have to be in it for the long haul, because some days are very long, these children do come with a past (and due to no fault of their own, the past wasn't always that good). Is it worth every effort that you give? ABSOLUTELY! These children have made us laugh and given us many hugs and kisses. But, when you hear, "I love you mommy" that makes everything you have went through worth it. When you see their face light up and you see that they now have a place of their own and a family and they feel it, it overrides all of the hard times, times of waiting for them to come home, any negative comment you have received from anyone about it. When they crawl up in your lap, or lay their head on you, or look at you and know your mom and dad and you are who they have to depend on it just an awesome feeling. Not everyone understands adoption, and many don't want to understand. I think how sad it is for them. They miss out on the joy of being a part of something so wonderful, whether through adopting a child themselves or just knowing the child being adopted. Not everyone has to adopted, but there is ways to be a part of adopting whether that be by supportive words, or cards, offering a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on, financial help, helping with a night out for the parents, welcoming the child, remembering the family in prayer, whatever the part you play, each is very important. I know we have received each one from different people and they were all needed and welcomed. I have received some wonderful words of encouragement, especially during the waiting process and it was so needed and welcomed. I tell you all of this to say that adoption is a wonderful, amazing thing. It is needed for many, many children. Children here in the U.S. and children all over the world. We believe that a child is a child no matter where they are in the world and they need a home and family. Also adoption is needed for each age group, babies, toddlers, elementary age, pre-teens and teenagers. They all have a place in the world and all have needs no matter the age. Love has no age limit. I am a believer that some people are just perfect for older kids and some are perfect for babies and some perfect for a variety of ages. God has a plan and can use each one of us, if we are willing to open our hearts and home. He has commanded us to help the widows and orphans. Notice I said command, not whenever it is conventient for us. Is it a leap of faith? Yes. Do you have to let go and trust? Yes. But, can you experience some wonderful blessings when you do trust? Absolutely. Is it always easy? NO, but God is with you and will never leave you. He sure proved that to me when He traveled with me to Liberia and back! Who would have ever thought I would go without anyone else going with me? But that is what God wanted me to do and He guided me through it.
So Happy Adoption Awareness Month! We thank God everyday for the gift of adoption! Thank you God for calling us to this ministry!
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