Those of you who know me know that I frequently ride my bike to and from work. Besides the obvious health benefits, there are less-tangible benfits such as being able to de-compress, or think through things that happened during the day and settle them prior to arriving at home. Today was one of those days where the ride home was particularly beneficial in the latter regard.
Today started well enough with a nice ride into work and some early success with a project. I popped onto twitter and, in an attempt to foster increased interest in the special-needs adoption fundraiser my dad is running, I posted the following:
What do running shirts, Triathlon jerseys, bike kit, and orphans have in common? bit.ly/RZuO1t #adoption #orphans
As you can guess, my intent was that people would assume that there isn't an obvious connection and would click the link, read about the fundraiser, and consider particpating. But that didn't happen. Instead, I was greated just a few minutes later by a response that caught me quite off-guard:
@argodev They are all unwanted?
I'm still not sure I have words to express an appropriate response to that comment (although I suppose this post is a paltry attempt). As the father of two internationally adopted children, my initial response was to reach through the Internet and [insert something spiteful here... go ahead, let your imagination run a bit]. As I sit here and look at them across the table from me, I can assure you that the word unwanted is the least appropriate adjective for them.
As one who has just spent 13 months as a foster parent to a medically fragile infant, who though unwanted and abused by her birth parents, and made legally an orphan by their actions, was very much wanted by us and is wanted and loved by her adoptive home, I can't begin to imagine the mindset behind this kind of statement.
I am privleged to be a friend of a family who - at great expense to themselves, and at even more disruption to their lifestyle and family - recently celebrated the 1 year anniversary of having their down-syndrome child home with them. A child they rescued (no, I'm not being hyperbolic) from a life of isolation in a corner of a primative orphanage in a far away land. In light of their selflessness, I am humbled and amazed. To ask them if they wanted their son would be nothing short of insulting.
In the light of a community of believers, who belive so strongly in the mandate to demonstrate Christ's love in a tangible way by caring for those who have no earthly family that they raise countless thousands of dollars annually to help those who want these children...
In the light of this same community who gathers to encourage, equip and challenge others to do the same...
In the light of Scripture, where our God is described as being the Father of the Fatherless and as His followers we are commanded to visit the orphans in their affliction...
When I consider all of this, I am left thinking that I will reply (and possibly shout):
NO! By God's grace they are not unwanted!
Rob Gillen
It's hard to believe that it was five years ago today that Matt came to be part of our family forever. God has been so good to us. Matt has grown a ton in that time... it is hard to look at pictures of that big-haired 15-month old and realize it's the same child. Now, as a six year old, he's one of the most kind kids I know. He's incredibly outgoing and friendly - always concerned about making others feel at important. At home, he's been a great brother to baby R and has welcomed both B and D into our family even though he took the brunt of the changes.;)
As I write this, there are friends of ours who celebrated his 1-year gotcha day with us who realized that foster care and adoption were things that they could do too, and are now waiting for a child to be placed into their home.
