My friend, Lori, drew my attention to this post, and it is a must read! Adoption is a miracle, a redemption...but often there is another side that only few see, the suffering side. Sometimes it ends well; sometimes it does not. This paragraph really spoke to me:
"The gospel life is an invitation to come and die.It is first of all a story of brokenness.Before the beautiful redemption there is misunderstanding, rejection, loneliness, disappointment, frustration, and betrayal leading to a painful, bloody death.There is sorrow, burial and mourning.Yet somehow, though we prayed to be like Christ, we were surprised when the pain came to us.We were surprised when the gospel story was repeated in our homes, in our hearts, in the children we thought to rescue."
Well written and thought provoking, but as I went to sleep last night, I thought of my several friends that are really struggling with their children: suicide attempts, multiple hospitilizations, drug addictions, jail and parole... These are good families and these are biological children. Maybe it is parenting that offers us the opportunity to be like Christ and not just adopting?
Well written and thought provoking, but as I went to sleep last night, I thought of my several friends that are really struggling with their children: suicide attempts, multiple hospitilizations, drug addictions, jail and parole... These are good families and these are biological children. Maybe it is parenting that offers us the opportunity to be like Christ and not just adopting?
thank you so much for the link. it is such a privilege to be able to share within this lovely online community.
GaeIN,
yes, i hear your heart. there is so much suffering in the world - none of us are excused from it.
i simply wrote to particularly encourage the hearts of adoptive families, many of whom have been devastated by the fact that their voluntary efforts to love have brought such hardship and heartbreak into their homes.
but all of us Christ-followers - adoptive families, bio families, childless, single - are on the same road towards Christ. it is only the methods He chooses to shape us that differ.
thank you for reminding us that we have a shared story.
Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you understood that no critism was intended, just a desire to share that message with some hurting non-adoptive families.
Well written and thought provoking, but as I went to sleep last night, I thought of my several friends that are really struggling with their children: suicide attempts, multiple hospitilizations, drug addictions, jail and parole... These are good families and these are biological children. Maybe it is parenting that offers us the opportunity to be like Christ and not just adopting?
ReplyDeleteWell written and thought provoking, but as I went to sleep last night, I thought of my several friends that are really struggling with their children: suicide attempts, multiple hospitilizations, drug addictions, jail and parole... These are good families and these are biological children. Maybe it is parenting that offers us the opportunity to be like Christ and not just adopting?
ReplyDeleteThat same paragraph jumped out at me too...especially the "surprised when the pain came to us". Was I ever surprised!
ReplyDeleteconnie,
ReplyDeletethank you so much for the link. it is such a privilege to be able to share within this lovely online community.
GaeIN,
yes, i hear your heart. there is so much suffering in the world - none of us are excused from it.
i simply wrote to particularly encourage the hearts of adoptive families, many of whom have been devastated by the fact that their voluntary efforts to love have brought such hardship and heartbreak into their homes.
but all of us Christ-followers - adoptive families, bio families, childless, single - are on the same road towards Christ. it is only the methods He chooses to shape us that differ.
thank you for reminding us that we have a shared story.
thank you again for the link.
may God richly encourage you all today.
thankful,
tonia
tonia,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you understood that no critism was intended, just a desire to share that message with some hurting non-adoptive families.
Keep writing :)