adopted

there is a picture that has been floating around face book, and i just can't seem to shake my need to voice an opinion about it. so, here is the picture:

I am not trying to steal anyone's fun. But i guess i just find this a sad view of adoption. i am not adopted, and since i am not adopted, at one point this may have been funny to me as well... i know that no one would mean any harm by this picture, but i can't seem to let it go. let me tell you why:


i guess i just zoom forward and think - what would emma think if she saw this? what if she was struggling with her identity on the day that she did see it? - would she wonder what was so wrong with being adopted that the baby would be crying like that? i can't stop my mommy heart from protecting her heart. 

every night we pray against rejection, and fear of abandonment. We pray that she would know how much we love her, that we wanted her and that she is so valuable to us. and, we pray that she will carry her story with grace. 
i guess i just cringe when i see this, because i think - is this her future? are these the thoughts and the stigma's that are coming her way? 

yes, i guess they are. 


and you may feel that i am being super sensitive, and there is a good chance i am. but put yourself in my shoes, in Emma's shoes, and see if you respond any differently. 


this is what adoption actually looks like:







an incredibly brave young woman doing the most mothering thing possible - giving her baby the best chance for a strong and stable life.








and here is a little more food for thought: 


We are all adopted. 


If we are in the family of Christ, we have been adopted into it.


So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15


God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Eph 1:5


This is such good news, it is hard to even know where to start. No matter how healthy or admirable our families were when we were growing up, they were all flawed, because humans are flawed. We all screw each other up. BUT - we are ingrafted, invited, welcomed, and adopted into a perfect family that has the promise of all the things that will cause our hearts to rest. 


that means that no matter what we had in our formative years - a father, no father, a mother, no mother, abuse or no abuse, we all get a fresh start with a perfect Father who has perfect intentions toward us. 


and - he is changing my nature into His as i get to know Him more. my temper is exchanged for His kindness and patience. my anxiety is replaced with the trust that He has the best in store for me. the list goes on and on. 


so, each of us has a level playing field. we may have a little more work than someone else to change our reflexes, but we all get a chance to sit at the table of a King. It is His grace and mercy that invite us there, and it is our privilege to spend all of our days with Him, enjoying Him, becoming more like Him.


So, three cheers for adoption. 


It is beautiful, and i am proud to be part of those who have the privilege of receiving a child through adoption. 


i just thought it would be worth putting a different spin on something that we, who come from the same DNA as our parents and our siblings, could have just chuckled and moved on with our day. hopefully you don't mind my little need to bring a different opinion.