Why Adoption ...?

Recently, Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were featured on Good Morning America and Larry King Live. It was their first public appearances since the recent tragic death of their adopted daughter, Maria. In an article published before the interviews, Stephen had some profound statements that helped to crystallize some of the reasons we have chosen adoption to expand our family. Here are a few excerpts from that article...

"My wife and I had always supported the idea of adoption, and as Christians, we understood the importance of loving and caring for others. But what I had not yet grasped was that adoption is a physical picture of what Jesus has done for me. I did nothing to deserve God's love; in fact, I was living as an orphan, without hope. Yet God chose to pursue a relationship with me, and through the death of his son Jesus, I was adopted into God's family."

"...In our travels to Latin America, Africa and Asia, we have visited many different orphanages. If you look past the surroundings and into the eyes of the children, they all have the same look. They seem to convey, "I don't think this is what I was made for. Where do I belong?" These children are crying out for the hope of a family, for the hope of community, for the hope of a permanent love."

When I look into the eyes of our sons, I can see they are desperately searching for a place to belong. A place to be loved and feel safe and to be a child - without the adult worries of food, home and health. They don't belong in an orphanage - they belong in a family (not only with a mom and dad and 2 sisters, but also with grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins!).

I know there will be struggles - struggles with language, and grief, and anger and rebellion - and possibly even racism. Struggles adapting to our family and our lifestyle. But in the end (and in the beginning) all of the struggles will be worth it and our family will be more complete as a result. I can't wait to wrap my arms around these 2 little boys and welcome them into our family permanently. October will be here before we know it and until then, we continue busily preparing our hearts and our home for them.