Well, after last week's post about the Fall Training Seminar, and the discouraging stats for the year at the agency (3 adoptions so far this year, compared to 11 last year), an opportunity to adopt came as a surprise to us a few days ago!
An update email told us about an opportunity for an adoption and that we could all choose if we would like our profiles included. After considering the specific complications that came with this adoption and praying about it, we decided to say yes to having our profile shown to the couple.
We know that the Lord has a plan in place for our adoption, and we decided that by leaving our arms open, God would be able to move. He would either cause the couple to select us or select someone else.
It was our first experience having our book included in the stack of profile books given to the birth parents. I must say it was hard to think about much else during the past week! Thankfully we were away for Thanksgiving weekend and a family wedding, so we had a lot of fun things going on to keep us busy.
Getting the email that told us we were not chosen was interesting. It was a little bit sad, and yes, I shed a few tears, but we know that the little hunnies weren't meant to be ours. We are choosing to see the good. A couple on our agency list has been blessed with an adoption (though they now need to get through some time of waiting for things to finalize), and we are bumped down the list one spot.
Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Psalms 27:14
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
Whatever is true, pure, lovely, excellent, or praiseworthy, think on such things. Philippians 4:8
For I know the One in whom I trust, and I know that He is able. 2 Timothy 1:12
The pain that you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming. Romans 18:8
These scriptures can relate to our adoption experiences, and I am thankful that I have His word to lean on for reassurances. It is easy to get discouraged when you know very little about the future for your family.
Honestly though, most couples wait a long time for an adoption, often more than two years. We are just at the beginning.
All is well.
One thing that I never expected when starting this journey was to become a part of such an amazing adoption community! I never knew that we would be getting emails outlining ways that we can be in prayer for other adoptive families, birth families, and children. I have to say I have been moved to tears by these stories on several occasions. So much emotion with adoption. These are not little decisions being made, they are life changing for all involved. Being in the know on these scenarios has taught us so much about what adoption involves. This is not for the faint at heart. What a privilege to be able to join others in their joy and struggles as they experience all of this!
Knowing that we are now a part of this prayer community also gives me some peace of mind in knowing that we will be lifted up in prayer when it is us who are in the midst of it all!
This new window into the community of Christian adoption in Alberta brought with it the realities of the situations that are present around all adoptions:
-the decisions a birthmother must make as she thinks about her uncertain future, whether or not she can bare to raise her child, whether or not she can bare to place her child
-the unknown health of children being born out of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, homelessness or mental illness
-the emotions of families chosen to parent a child only to have the child revoked before finalization
-the broken hearts of the couples waiting years for their adoption dream to come true, only to never be chosen
-the precious little babies and children being neglected and suffering as birth parents work to cope with their troubled lives and family responsibilities
-birth mothers in agony as they say goodbye to their precious child
-adoptive families meeting birth families and going through days or weeks of courtship before decisions are made
So many people hoping to love a child...a longed for time in a family's life that brings so much joy!
So many people grieving the loss of children they will not parent...deep heartache that will be felt for years to come.
One family's joy stemming from another family's sadness.
So many reasons to pray.
