Are you Ready to be Uncomfortable?

You see them on TV, on billboards, and on the internet.  Songs have been sung about them. We all get caught up in the emotional pleas. We get excited about the ideals of the cause. What am I talking about? The plight of the orphan.

Our hearts break hearing their stories and we want to spring to action to help them. Some are orphaned by physically losing their mother and father. Some lost their parents because the government had to take them away to protect them. Others lose their parents because of the parents not having the resources to take care of them. No matter what the cause of them being an orphan they ALL have experienced some type of LOSS.

Loss affects us all emotionally. It shapes us, makes us who we are today. Loss is hard; some not has hard as others. Like losing my phone is nothing in light of losing my dad. Yet they both changed me. Now I am more careful with my phone and well I am still dealing with the loss of my dad, but it has changed me.

You may be saying, “Yes I know all this.” I am bringing this up to just point out a few things to those you who are possibly considering adoption.

Adoption is a God thing. He has adopted those who ask for His forgiveness and follow Him. He tells us to take care of the widows and orphans...it is a command. Adoption is a beautiful picture of redemption and restoration.

To have redemption and restoration that means there has to of been brokenness and pain. Pain that goes VERY deep; deep into crevices that usually take a long time to even find let alone start on the healing process. Some children block the events, the pain. If the child was non-verbal at the time of the event/pain than those hidden crevices are even harder to discover. (This is what we are experiencing right now with one of our children.)

No matter who you are in the family you will be affected. Many times it is not discussed, but the biological children will greatly suffer. At time too much! Do I believe it will make them a better person in the end? Yes, but at a cost. All involved will gain some scars from the hurt that was foolishly given to these children.

The reason for adoption is not pretty and also the process of adjusting and healing also is not very pretty. You know those commercials you watch that there is that child waiting for you? We cry and want to take that child home, cloth, bath, and feed him. Those kids do need us,  a forever family, but realize those commercials tug at our heartstrings, but the real world of adoption is not sweet and the child is not happy at first to be with you. It is hard, down in the trenches hard. And no it is not just for a year or two of adjustment either. It is a daily, year around, forever adjustment. Your life will never be the same and either will any bio children, grandparents, and others you are close to.

Yes this process isn’t pretty, but life isn’t either…it is MESSY! Are you ready to be on a rocky adventure? Are you ready to change your life and others around you (and I am not talking about rainbows and friendly unicorn kind of change)? Are you ready to be shunned by some people? Are you ready to be uncomfortable? Then welcome to adoption! Make sure you have good people support,  good running shoes, and your seat belt securely fastened!