Many times, in this journey of international adoption and parenting internationally adopted kids, we are asked why. Why spend so much money for a single adoption of one or two kids, when you could give that same amount to an orphanage that could help so many more?
Don't get me wrong, this is not a post against orphanage ministries. I am totally in favor of giving to build and support orphanages. They are so desperately needed. Where would my children have gone if those children's homes had not been there when they needed them? Who would have cared for them during the time they were not yet able to be adopted, but their birth families could not?
I believe we are all called to serve and minister to the orphans, but not all of us in the same way. Some are called to go as missionaries, some to work in those orphanages. Some are called to give money, to build and run and staff the homes. Some are called to adopt, and still others to support those who do so financially and in prayer. Some are called to foster care. There are so many ways to be involved with orphan ministry!
And the orphanages are desperately needed. The majority of children in many of our world's orphanages are not eligible for adoption for various reasons, still others never have the opportunity. But, there are those who God has chosen to place in families. So, who does it matter to when families called to adoption chose to raise and spend thousands of dollars on an adoption?
In my own home, it matters.
It matters to Katiana.
It matters to Alex.
It matters to Jenalyn.
It matters to Kelly and Ana Maria, our waiting daughters.
Ask any of my children if, given a choice, they would have chosen the orphanage over an opportunity to have a FAMILY! Ask any of the thousands and thousands of children in an orphanage anywhere, or in foster care here in our own country, which they would chose.
I have a key chain that holds the key to my office. It says this:
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
We cannot save them all, but we can save the ones God has called us to, the ones he has put on our hearts. Think about it - so many children, so many faceless and nameless orphans, and a mere three we have currently been blessed to call our own, two more God has put on our hearts. Five children out of thousands.
Have we made a difference? Does it matter?
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Ok you know I spend way too much time on facebook when I am looking for the like button lol But I will say I like this : )
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have made a difference in more lives than you probably realize... Yes, it DOES matter - to especially your kids and your future kids. You are amazing parents and anyone who has a problem with the fact you are following God's will for your life need to spend more time themselves figuring out what the Lord has for themself instead of trying to tell other people what the Lord wants for them... They are taking on a role that was meant for God at that point!! I admire you and Dave both for your perseverance and your willingness to follow the Lord's leading in this area of your lives, especially now that we are starting the process of adoption ourselves... it makes me admire you even more. I truly feel blessed to have people like you in my life! May God truly bless you!
ReplyDelete~Saralyn~
This morning John said, " I thought I was happy in the orphanage because that was all I knew. I was pretending to be happy. " Although he still has a lot of pain and anger, he is headed toward the happiness he thought adoption would bring him. I remember a story too about starfish on a beach and one person throwing them back into the ocean. Someone came along and said, "you can't save them all." (Those are the exact same words my mother-in-law said to me.) She replied, "yeah, but I saved that one and that one and that one...."
ReplyDeleteYes, Tanis, I LOVE that story, too!
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