The Lord has been talking with me and leading me through a concept. This may be basic and elementary for most of you. But I will share it anyway.
Think through a hypothetical situation with me: There is a child in the foster care system who is expected to become adoptable (parental rights will be severed) in the "near" future. Will we take this child?
As I thought through all the questions that would need to be answered, I felt God drop a question right into the middle that stopped all my swirling thoughts. Is the child worth it?
I had to physically stop what I was doing and just roll that question around in my head for a minute. I realized all the other questions that has been buzzing through were all very selfish questions~ how much would our life be inconvenienced? How many court visits would be required? How many times would we have to deal with visits? Would we have to deal with emotional upheavals that would probably come with each visit? How much would we have to "undo" or "re-teach" with this child? Again, I felt this very urgent question, "AM I WORTH IT???"
Now I understand that every family has to answer the question for each adoption question, "Can we realistically take on this situation?" But let's face it. Most of the time, the issues come down to the question, "Is this child worth the sacrifice, etc.?"
Then, I could hear His lesson for taking me through this hypothetical excercise. Every child in every adoption situation needs to hear loud and clear, "YOU ARE WORTH IT." No matter what they have been told and what has been demonstrated to them in the past, they need to hear from their adoptive family that every bit of the adoption journey to them has been well worth it because they are special and loved by God. THEY HAVE VALUE AND ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. They can never hear grumbling or complaining about costs, time expended, or inconveniences. They will notice any sigh or bad attitude regarding what it is taking from me to fight for them. And that will communicate the world to them. How much "worth" are you willing to assign a child that is looking for a family to love them unconditionally?
EXPANDED FOCUS FELLOWSHIP! With Jen Walbridge
9 years ago
4 comments:
Charisa, we are not wealthy by any American standards. Sometimes I am tempted to wonder how we could possibly afford two more kids--even aside from the adoption cost. We won't be able to take the kids out to eat as often. What if they all want to sign up for soccer or gymnastics or some other fee-based activity. What about the cost of vacations? Couldn't our boys experience more if we just stop now at 2 kids?
Then I'm reminded that if my kids (ALL of them) don't get to do those things, if they grow up in hand-me-downs, if we have to drop satellite TV, etc...could we EVER bring our boys' standard of living down to equal the level of the girls' life in a Bulgarian orphanage? "NO!!" echoes in my ears. Whatever luxuries I "deprive" my boys of does not compare to how their lives will be positively changed by this adoption.
And that's just the financial concern. As you said, could we ever be "inconvenienced" enough that we shouldn't have invested in the life of a child?
PS - I just now watched your "Amazing Video" from your last post. Don't know how I missed it, but it truly was amazing.
You've said all that needs to be said!! And the answer is, YES, of course they are worth it!!
Renae
These are great thoughts Charisa. It might have been a little difficult to share them but thank you for sharing.
I think many times in adoption the question is "Am I willing to be inconvenienced or to make a sacrifice?"
Thank you so much for this post, Charisa. It was just what I needed to hear.
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