One man had the courage to stand up for what he believed, even if it made him stand out from his culture and country. In some country’s it’s a normal practice to abandon your children, especially if they have special needs or you don’t have the means to provide for them. Many people don’t know any different. That’s how they’ve been taught their whole lives. It’s mind boggling to me, but that’s just how it is. It would have been so easy for this man to sit back and say, “There are so many orphans, I couldn’t possibly do anything that would make a big enough difference,” but he didn’t! What an amazing story! I’m going to support this documentary and I hope that you all do as well!
After a couple years of infertility (after already having 3 children), we began to think that maybe we were supposed to adopt to add our next miracle to the family. We had so many strong impressions and feeling and we really felt that adoption was the direction God was leading us. We started moving in that direction, I read many blogs, we attended classes, looked into the foster-to-adopt program, adoption within the US, and International adoption. Through the process, our heart strings were pulled many times, sometimes to seemingly unbearable measures. It was so hard to see the conditions some children were in. It was eye opening and heart-breaking.
We lived in an area, where we and most of the people around us, had everything we needed and wanted. I remember going to church one day, and as we pulled into the parking lot, feeling angry. I was angry that we all had so much! There was SO much abundance and I could hardly stand it because I had just spent weeks in foster care classes hearing horrific stories that seemed too horrible to be true, I had stayed up night after night looking at “waiting children” in orphanages, and in that moment, it was almost more than I could handle. I remember thinking that day, that I never wanted to have an abundance and not give to those without, but isn’t that so relative? Who decides when we reach the point of abundance or excess? It is so easy to justify our wants as needs. It is so easy to think that we have earned all that we have and deserve this and that and the other. Inside the church, of that parking lot that made me so angry, were countless people that give and give and are more than gracious with what they’ve been blessed with. They are constantly giving. It’s just such a hard concept for me to wrap my brain around. How can we have so much, and there are so many that have so little? It is so sad to me how quickly those intense feelings of giving can fade, how quickly I can forget and sometimes become selfish with what I’ve been blessed with. While I was submersed in all of it, I was humbled and I would have done anything for any of those innocent children placed in horrible circumstances. I wanted to get involved in all the organizations and nothing was going to stop me!
Then we got pregnant! Surprise surprise! We were so excited, but my heart was torn! Our miracle baby I had prayed so hard for was finally on it’s way, but in the mean time, I had gained such a strong love and desire to adopt. I knew now was not the right time, that at minimal, it had to wait. My hubby was wisely suggesting, “one thing at a time.”:-) It was hard for me. I still thought about it a lot! I wondered why we had that experience? I knew it was for a purpose, but it was killing me to not know the details of that purpose!
As time has passed, I still can’t see the full picture, but I’ve seen bits and pieces of it. I have a heart for adoption now. My prayers go out to those who are searching for their baby. It’s not an easy process. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You have to feel out paperwork saying what you are willing to take and aren’t willing to take. That’s really hard when you want to take them all, but know you may not be capable of it. You have to look at picture after picture of sweet children that are stuck in orphanages and need a Mom and Dad. You have to some how get on the same page with our spouse about all the boxes you are checking and not checking. It’s a big deal! You are bringing a real child into your home! When they are born to you, you love and accept whatever is given to you, but when you are checking boxes and looking at faces, it’s an emotional roller coaster! It is hard! After feeling all those feelings and emotions, I am a lot quicker to help however I can by donating to those raising money, or by helping others raise money for their adoption. As I’ve been involved a little more, I have felt so blessed to see how generous and giving so many people are, even strangers!
Adoption is not for everyone. Most likely, our calling isn’t going to have a “Drop Box” for abandoned children, but being aware and educated about the process has blessed my life and family so much. It’s helped me see that their are small and simple ways that I can help. These are children of God and should be loved! I am so grateful for this Korean man who was willing to answer a call from God to love these children, even if it meant giving up the comfort of his home, his time, money, and I’m sure sleep!
-Lindsey
This article appeared first on Real Imprints.