The "Almost" Adoption

We have one adopted grandchild.  A grandson.  Q is an incredible addition to our growing family.  He is adorable, fun, happy, and just makes us smile...and laugh. We cannot imagine life without him.  His adoption by Farm Chick at Heart and EJ has given us much insight into how God feels about us (His adopted kids).  Our lives are richer now than we could have ever imagined.  Before his adoption, I didn't know how I would feel about him.  I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be as attached to him as to our biological grandchildren.  When he came home, all my fears melted into a puddle of quickly evaporating nothingness.  Pop and I were smitten from the beginning with a precious baby boy given to us by God.  What a blessing!

When Farm Chick and EJ received a call on Christmas Eve 2011, we were so excited at the prospect of another adopted grandson!  There were some reservations with the little fellow's mother that they shared with us...things that made us think she might not follow through with her resolve to place him for adoption.  We loved him anyway and anticipated his arrival.  Farm Chick and EJ met Baby C's birth mother and loved on her as God called them to do.  

As with each of our grandchildren, Pop went on a bear hunt to find the perfect "Pop Bear" for Baby C.  He and I looked at about six bears that were all the "same", but anyone who truly looks at teddy bears knows that they each have different faces regardless of the fact that they are all cut and sewn from a single pattern.  We studied each face and chose just the right one...then we waited.

Farm Chick and EJ got another call...Baby C would be remaining with his birth mom.  We felt like God had somehow prepared us ahead of time. In spite of loving him and anticipating his arrival, there was always prayer that God would do what He deemed best and those prayers were answered when the call came.  There was sadness, but there was peace.  There was joy knowing that Baby C's mother loves and wants to do the hard work of parenting him.  I was okay with that...then I caught a glimpse of Baby C's pop bear sitting on my loveseat and fell apart.  I grieved for him, knowing that he would not be a part of our family.  The grief I felt caught me off guard...it was similar to the grief I have felt when our daughters have miscarried early in several of their pregnancies.  It was like a wave that toppled me over for a brief period of time.  I cried...then I found my feet once again on solid ground.  I find solace in knowing that God's plan is infinitely better than any plan I can conjure up.  

I knew that Farm Chick was putting together a box of things to be mailed to Baby C's mother so I asked if she would include Baby C's pop bear with a letter from me.  I thank God for what He is doing in the lives of His beloved children...including me.  I will always remember Baby C and will think of him on his birthday each year.  I pray that God will provide for him and his mommy richly and that He will rain down blessings on them.

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For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  

Romans 8:14-16 (NIV)