The Faith of Adoption
Posted by Candace
I just finished a book called "Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage". It is the journal of a woman who lived in China for 4 years and volunteered at a local orphanage. Needless to say, it was heart-wrenching. She speaks of conditions that would cause most of us to turn our backs because we simply could not watch. She details her experiences of the overwhelming need of the children to just experience human touch. These are children that are not held or rocked or sang to...who receive cold baths and frigid conditions (even inside) in the winter and battle heat and bugs in the summer... who share bottles and bowls of rice because there is not enough to go around and often pass illnesses like cattle. These are children who would thrive in loving families, but waste away because of deformities or imperfections.
I have had several people question why we didn't adopt locally when there are so many children in our own backyard that need families. My answer has been that China is where God led us, but even as I said it, I felt a certain sense of guilt... NO MORE! The needs of these international children are just as great, if not greater then those in America. The conditions I read of would have caused national crisis and attention here in the states and resolved quickly, while this woman worked 4 years to put a dent in the care of these children with fundraising and the like, and still ended up resigning her post because she just could not deal with seeing children die that could have been saved.
As you can imagine, this book hit a personal nerve, and after I was done I wondered if I even should have read it. But I know that it was placed in front of me for a reason. I will now pray harder for our Kate... I will be more committed than ever to go get her... and I will be the first one to offer infinite hugs and kisses and touches to our little girl. If anything can make up for the 2 years of pain and abandonment she has already faced, we will do it!
Yes, adoption has been a arduous journey of waiting. Yes, adoption has been an expensive journey. Yes, adoption is a more difficult way of adding to a family. But not because of these things, you know why it is more challenging? Because it requires FAITH. Faith that God will provide funds, faith that He will provide the child that belongs to you, faith that He will actively work in the process step by step, faith that He will be amazingly present with your child until you can bring him or her home for good. Yes, adoption is a calling. But before you let yourself off the hook...it is a calling for ALL of us to care for widows and orphans...it is even what James calls "True Religion". Not everyone has a desire to adopt a child, but as adopted children of Christ, we should ALL have a desire to do SOMETHING. So as a passionate mom waiting on her little girl, I ask you to examine your life, your priorities, your giving, your faith... where are you helping the 147 million orphans waiting for love? Are you just assuming that someone is taking care of them? Maybe God wants to take care of them through you. Maybe He wants to take care of them through some of the resources that He has give you. Definitely He wants to take care of them through your awareness, your prayers, and your voice. Will you become a part of the solution? If you can only help just one, will you do it? Don't ignore the urgings inside of you for a more comfortable or easy life. Let the Holy Spirit interfere with your 5 and 10 year goals, and then watch as He works right before your eyes! I promise, it will be worth it!
"Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has in store for those who love Him."
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