In Other Words…

“I thought about the whole notion of “reproduction,” and what it really means to replicate yourself. Is it merely about the passing on of eyes and chins and hair color? Or is it, rather, the replication of the heart? Do we leave a bigger mark by passing on our genes, or our thoughts?”
~ Shannon Woodward, author of
Inconceivable: Finding Peace
in the Midst of Infertility ~

I am the Aunt of two wonderful adopted little girls. This all happened last year and is still really fresh in my heart. My sister struggled for years to have a baby, and through many heart changes, God laid adoption on her and her husband’s heart. Not only that, the Lord laid Siberia, Russia on their heart. My sister knew her daughter was going to come from Russia (even before she got the go ahead for the adoption).

You have to understand this is a girl who is terrified of flying and the Lord is going to have her fly to Russia of all places. As they were waiting word from Russia to go get their precious baby girl. The lady’s who performed my sister’s home study (which is required in adoption), called and asked, “We have someone who is about to deliver, and she just decided to give her unborn baby girl up for adoption, I know you were only going for an International adoption, but I would really like to show your dossier to her”. Long story short, the birth mother chose my sister and her husband. In the span of one week (maybe even shorter) my sister was able to drive to the hospital and hold her brand new baby girl.

Remember they are still waiting for word from Russia. This did come about a month later. So leaving a brand new baby girl in the care of Grandma and Grandpa, they took off for the longest flight in their life. They were going to meet their second daughter who was at the time just over a year old. When adopting from Russia you have to make two trips. One trip to meet everyone and meet your daughter (who was in an orphanage at this time). Then you fly home (talk about hardest thing in the world to do), only to return in about four weeks to come take your child home after your legal court date.. What a roller coaster this all was, but one I would not trade for the world. When I got to see my sister, my new niece step off the plane, it was the greatest feeling (besides the birth of my own children). The airport was full of tons of friends and family.

So not only was my sister blessed with one daughter, but TWO in the span of six months. It was unbelievable. OH GOD IS GOOD.

Now the quote from Shannon asks if we make a bigger mark passing on our genes or our thoughts. I say with out a doubt, our thoughts. An egg or a sperm does not make you a Mother or Father. Whether a child has your eyes, his chin, or their personality does not make you a good Mom or Dad. Family traditions or raising your child according to God’s word is what makes you a good parent. Being there for all the good and bad, makes you a good parent. Being able to provide (food, clothes, and necessities) makes you a good parent. None of this has to do with genes. “And the greatest of these is Love…..” THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU A GOOD PARENT.

And if you are a child of God, you to have been adopted. My prayer is my sister’s daughters grow up to be very close and feeling very loved.