moment

I will never get tired of watching families be united for the first time with their adoptive children. The emotions are so compelling, raw, and genuine. I know many of you who follow my blog may not make claims to faith, but for me, seeing these families experience what it means to love an adoptive child is so powerful. It is a first hand glimpse of God’s love for us. This is something I never fully understood until I became a mother. I can only imagine how emotional that moment will be for Nate and me, when we hold our baby in our arms for the first time. It will be different than when we had Oliver, but an instant just as momentous all the same. A moment filled with amazement, relief, contentment, and praise.

As I eagerly anticipate that moment, I have seen my heart change, grow, and stretch in ways I never imagined possible. I have experienced flashes of panic in the beginning of this adoption process….wondering if we were doing the right thing, doubting our decision, feeling the cost is too great, fearful of all of the unknowns. But the truth is I believe our child is perfectly made to fit into our family. Just like every other child, hand picked by God to be forever ours. I believe we have a CALLING to bring a child into our home. I believe I now have a responsibility to look beyond myself and our selfishness, and SEE the world outside of our American viewpoint.

People who serve on mission trips say that their eyes have been opened. That there hearts will never be the same. I have not served in a third-world country, but I believe that this adoption process is filled with so much of that same type of personal growth. And most of it will take place in my heart before I have a child in my arms.

When I remind myself of all these things, the panic over adoption dissolves. I find myself hopeful to encourage others to consider adoption. I am eager to share my sense of peace over this decision, and I know after seeing the faces of these orphaned children I will be returning to them....hopefully as an adoptive parent once again.

I want to share a coming home video by a recent adoptive mother. I have been touched by her eloquent writing and especially this post.