Referral. Matched with your child. The day you and your family have been waiting for since November 2010. O happy day! Or, kind of not so happy day??
Adoption is a beautiful thing. A clear image of Christ's love for us. But, just as there is brokenness and sorrow in the story of Christ, there is also brokenness and sorrow in adoption.
For instance, the glaring reality that a child has lost or been abandoned by their parents. Every child's story is different. Their parents may have died. They may have been abandoned in an alley. They may have been relinquished by a single parent who was unable to care for them. They may have been conceived in a manner that is culturally unacceptable. Or, any combination of these situations. Bad things happen. Children are alone. They need a family.
Upon receiving that beautiful, longed for picture of your son or daughter, you will also learn the intimate details of how he/she became an orphan - if this information is available. It will bring you to your knees in sorrow. Sorrow for your child, sorrow for your child's birth family, sorrow for the people of your child's birth country, sorrow for all of humanity. This is some heavy, emotional information to process - all while you are expected to be jubilantly showing off pictures and making big plans. Because, yes, this IS a happy day!
I have to look at it like this: Just as there is redemption in the story of Christ, there is also redemption in adoption. We, as Christians, were saved by our faith and adopted into the family of God. His word equips us with the strength, love and compassion we need to adopt our children into our families. Make no mistake, I am not suggesting that we, as adoptive parents, are "saving" any children. That is not our job. Our job is to demonstrate Christ's unconditional love to our children every day so that they may know Him - the one who will not leave us as orphans. John 14:18
So, yes, this is a happy time. Celebrate! Our Lord is placing a child into a family. Psalms 68:6
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