I've been kind of quiet around here for a while.
Sometimes that's because I don't have a lot to say....and then sometimes it's because I have too much to say. ;)
Trying to find the balance between abrasive and numbly passive can sometimes be a challenge for me. I'm typically a very passionate person about those things dear to my heart, but I've also learned much about my own lacking and need for grace, and therefore want to better extend grace to others as part of my passion.
Graceful Passion....Passionate Grace.....is it even possible? They seem to somewhat contradict but yet are the perfect combination at the same time. Well, here is my feeble attempt at combining the two.
We recently had the unexpected privilege of adding to our family through adoption. How can adoption be "unexpected" you ask? Well, our journey began as a foster family, with the intent to help heal and reunify families. To play a part by providing a safe place for a child while their family received the help they needed to properly parent. We were naive, yes. But hopeful. Adoption, being something dear to our hearts, was always an open door, but not our sole motivation. As we stepped into the unknown, we were challenged and grown (continuing to grow!) from the beginning preparations and throughout the entire process that led to our adoption. It was not an easy process. But then again, neither was the pregnancy and birth of any of my biological children.
I find the idea that adoption should be easy, almost an insult. Definitely a thief of the joy. Working towards adoption, preparing for the "birth" of my child into my family, was part of the bonding. What made this precious child a part of me. A part of our family. Now don't get me wrong, our child came to us through the most challenging and heart-wrenching of circumstances.....there were moments of our almost 2 year journey that I was sure I wouldn't survive. Moments where I literally cried for deliverance. Again, just as with the physical birth of my children.
God continues to teach me so very much about myself and His plan for my life, and I am humbled and grateful that my children are a significant part of my learning. He speaks so clearly to me through each of them in different ways and different times and frankly, I can't imagine my life without the fullness that they are. I am blessed.
Easy adoption frightens me. Yes, frightens me....straight to my core.
Being fortunate to have many friends closely connected to the care and service and even adoption of orphans from all around the globe, I am reminded that this is not something to take lightly, never pursue without careful consideration and most certainly not something to expect to be easy.
Easy adoption is not safe for the child.
Easy adoption creates opportunity for evil people to use something very special, meaningful and with pure intent to harm or even profit from others. By using children. Even abusing. By lying, stealing, even at times destroying families. One must approach adoption with not only hearts wide open, but also eyes.
Adopted children will always have different hurdles in life.
I don't say these are hindrances or that the children are limited in any way. Not at all. However, they will have to face the reality of adoption, which in itself can be bittersweet. They will most likely have questions that can at times, be difficult or even impossible to answer. Based on their past circumstances, they may also face other challenges that will require patience and understanding that will likely stretch you both.
But adoption....adoption is a beautiful thing.
It is so clearly of God.
His design to heal brokenness where is should not be.
His design to create beauty from ashes.
The image of His acceptance and pursuit of each of us....which I dare say is never easy.
And for that I praise Him!
And, I humbly thank Him for allowing me this not so easy privilege of being an adoptive mother.
Completely Undeserving,
Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time."
