I have thoughts swirling around about adoption. All the time. Every day.
Adoption is a gift in so many ways.
If you've even glanced at this blog, you'll know that I consider my Lucy a precious gift from God and that I'm blown away by how very much I love her. She's such a joy. She makes every day more special, more sweet, more full of sparkly wonder. I am so thankful for her. She IS the gift of my adoption. Getting to share my life with her and be her mom is the gift.
There are other baubles of beauty in adoption, though, aside from the obvious one (my daughter).
One of these is a gift of awareness. I think almost everyone delights in their children. But with adoption, the delight is deepened into a joy and a gratefulness that is hard to describe. Ordinary moments, like Lucy giving her Uncle high-five kisses and hugs through the car window, squealing with happiness on her Pap's shoulders, and huddling in with Nana, making giggly plans, shout to my brain, "It is good! She is cherished! The dangers and hurts looming large over an orphanage crib have been covered, filled, overwhelmed with love. Not just my love but a torrent of love from friends and family. It has been made right!" I honestly believe it's a taste of heaven. Where all our tears will be wiped away and the broken things restored and the love of our Father just overwhelming us. What a precious thing that adoption has brought into focus for me.
Every time I take her to the doctor all pitiful and come out with medicine and hope that she'll soon feel better, I am deeply grateful. Every time. I think about Mamas in Ethiopia, where there is 1 doctor for every 37,000 people and I wonder what they do when their precious ones get strep and the 40 minute wait doesn't seem so bad. I see how beautiful it is to have access to health care and I literally thank God for it.
I generally dislike cooking, but seeing my daughter chomp down berries and chicken and sweet potatoes and tomatoes (her favorites) causes that grateful feeling to well up again. I can feed her just what her body needs to grow and be healthy. Fresh, healthy foods are available and, this is key, I can afford them. I think about a sweet boy from Ethiopia and how his birth mother couldn't feed him and chose to let him live by giving him to a family who could, and I am so desperately grateful for red tomatoes and blueberries and endless isles of groceries.
These small moments of perspective and gratitude are part of me now, crashing into my normal days. They have changed how I see myself and God and the world. They are (another) beautiful thing that adoption has brought into my life.
Adoption is a gift in so many ways.
If you've even glanced at this blog, you'll know that I consider my Lucy a precious gift from God and that I'm blown away by how very much I love her. She's such a joy. She makes every day more special, more sweet, more full of sparkly wonder. I am so thankful for her. She IS the gift of my adoption. Getting to share my life with her and be her mom is the gift.
There are other baubles of beauty in adoption, though, aside from the obvious one (my daughter).
One of these is a gift of awareness. I think almost everyone delights in their children. But with adoption, the delight is deepened into a joy and a gratefulness that is hard to describe. Ordinary moments, like Lucy giving her Uncle high-five kisses and hugs through the car window, squealing with happiness on her Pap's shoulders, and huddling in with Nana, making giggly plans, shout to my brain, "It is good! She is cherished! The dangers and hurts looming large over an orphanage crib have been covered, filled, overwhelmed with love. Not just my love but a torrent of love from friends and family. It has been made right!" I honestly believe it's a taste of heaven. Where all our tears will be wiped away and the broken things restored and the love of our Father just overwhelming us. What a precious thing that adoption has brought into focus for me.
Every time I take her to the doctor all pitiful and come out with medicine and hope that she'll soon feel better, I am deeply grateful. Every time. I think about Mamas in Ethiopia, where there is 1 doctor for every 37,000 people and I wonder what they do when their precious ones get strep and the 40 minute wait doesn't seem so bad. I see how beautiful it is to have access to health care and I literally thank God for it.
I generally dislike cooking, but seeing my daughter chomp down berries and chicken and sweet potatoes and tomatoes (her favorites) causes that grateful feeling to well up again. I can feed her just what her body needs to grow and be healthy. Fresh, healthy foods are available and, this is key, I can afford them. I think about a sweet boy from Ethiopia and how his birth mother couldn't feed him and chose to let him live by giving him to a family who could, and I am so desperately grateful for red tomatoes and blueberries and endless isles of groceries.
These small moments of perspective and gratitude are part of me now, crashing into my normal days. They have changed how I see myself and God and the world. They are (another) beautiful thing that adoption has brought into my life.
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