Monday, November 14, 2011

Encourage


Well seven months home came and went with no blog entry.  It is not what I intended, but there are lots of things that I intend and life happens in other ways.  We try so hard to anticipate needs and understand what behavior means to better meet their needs.  I find the face of deceit continuing to comfort others while our reality is isolating at times.

If you follow this blog and you are a friend or family member of a family who has adopted, I would love to encourage you! If you are an adoptive family, please feel free to share.
I/we.........
Encourage you to trust that your friend/family knows his/her child best and what they need.
Encourage you to trust that even if they are wrong in their choice that that heart is RIGHT for their child.
Encourage you to remember that your goal is to be part of the healing and growth for the child. 
Encourage you to forget time and remember that “first” are difficult and know no time.
Encourage you to remember that birthdays, anniversaries and holidays are HUGE milestones for children who are adopted. 
Encourage you to recognize your own needs and desires and what it might take to support the child.
Encourage you to RALLEY around the family in question and imagine the amount of stress the entire family is under.
Encourage you to pray, spend time with them, forgive the neglected emails, text, and voice mails or calls. 
Encourage you to call when you can and keep trying.  We need the contact.  The intensity of our lives does not always permit time for others.
Remember  ADOPTION is REDEMPTION .  It’s costly (time and money), exhausting (emotionally, mentally and physically), expensive (financially and personally), and outrageous (nothing you can plan for or prepare those you love for). Buying back lives costs so much. Whatever you may be experiencing is NOT personal.
As the holidays approach remember that they are often difficult for many people for many reasons.  Planning for the worst and hoping for the best is one way of doing business.  Using experiences and add in the emotions of what is holiday cheer for most, and creating a plan that offers the most opportunity for a child to be successful is another way.  How might you support a family this holiday season?