This morning I attended an adoption proceeding. It just took a few minutes and was light-hearted. The room was full of people who were there to celebrate this expression of love by a couple who made the choice to change the trajectory of the lives of four siblings; three girls and a boy. There are few human expressions of love as pure as that of adoption. Child rearing is difficult and to begin the process in the midst of previous difficult circumstances makes the job even harder. Four adolescent children are not an attractive option for many people, so it takes a couple who is specially called to step up to plate. It also requires community and I saw that in abundance at the hearing.
In many ways, this was more than an adoption; it was a redemption story. Four children, born into a bad situation, faced an uncertain future. But a redeemer found them and took them in. The children have a new name and have permanence that they can rely on. They know who their family is and they know that their family loves them, because their family chose them.
The judge did a great job of keeping the atmosphere light in the courtroom, but the proceedings carried a great weight of responsibility. The children came into the room as wards of the state. They left as members of a loving family. The parents came in with one child and four children they were caring for but left with five children with all of the attendant lifeling responsibilities.
There is a full day of celebration today. Sometimes things go right.
1 comment:
It was deeply moving for me, too, for the reasons you said. It is good when things do go right, isn't it!
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