The Blessing of Adoption
As we began our day to celebrate Independence Day yesterday, I posted this on Facebook: "Happy birthday to my adopted country!!! I love you more than you'll ever know. Take care of yourself..." ...And it occurred to me that adoption has been an ongoing theme in my life. When I was 2, my mom and I adopted a new country to be our home. When I was 4, my dad adopted me to be his own. When I was 37, I chose to accept a relationship with God and was adopted into a family of faith.
It used to be that I would focus on the negative aspects of adoption:
-A place had to be hard to live in in order for us to want a country we weren't born into.
-Someone had to not want me in order for someone else to adopt me.
-I knew there wasn't a place for me in religion.
In writing out my post, however, I realized that rejection or the turning away from something or someone was never the POINT in my ongoing themes of adoption. It was the turning toward, the receiving by and the inclusion of something better that was the GIFT of adoption.
As much as I love my country of origin and take pride in the cultural influences of the Philippines, I have fallen deeply in love with the United States. I am an American. I have adopted the language, I am thriving in its opportunities and I do life alongside my countrymen. I celebrate its accomplishments, my heart breaks with its missteps and my efforts are designed to make a contribution in my circles. I have a good LIFE through adoption.
Being adopted by my dad didn't mean I was rejected by my father. It meant my mother found love with a man willing to include me in his life and love me as his own. He would be someone to read to me at night, teach me about patriotism and show me the world through his service in the military. Because of my dad, I was given a brother and sister who would grow up to be two of my best friends. I was given a FAMILY through adoption.
When I was 19, I couldn't find my place in religion. Because it was all I knew, my belief was that God was tied into the boxes that had to be checked off and I ran as far away as I could. In 2009, however, I embraced the idea that I could choose a relationship with God that didn't have to be filtered through man-made restrictions and rules. I witness miracles on a regular basis, I see Jesus through new eyes and I have a better sense of who I am today. I was given a COMPASS through adoption.
I may not be where I started but I know where I'm going and who I'm doing it with...
As much as I love my country of origin and take pride in the cultural influences of the Philippines, I have fallen deeply in love with the United States. I am an American. I have adopted the language, I am thriving in its opportunities and I do life alongside my countrymen. I celebrate its accomplishments, my heart breaks with its missteps and my efforts are designed to make a contribution in my circles. I have a good LIFE through adoption.
Being adopted by my dad didn't mean I was rejected by my father. It meant my mother found love with a man willing to include me in his life and love me as his own. He would be someone to read to me at night, teach me about patriotism and show me the world through his service in the military. Because of my dad, I was given a brother and sister who would grow up to be two of my best friends. I was given a FAMILY through adoption.
When I was 19, I couldn't find my place in religion. Because it was all I knew, my belief was that God was tied into the boxes that had to be checked off and I ran as far away as I could. In 2009, however, I embraced the idea that I could choose a relationship with God that didn't have to be filtered through man-made restrictions and rules. I witness miracles on a regular basis, I see Jesus through new eyes and I have a better sense of who I am today. I was given a COMPASS through adoption.
I may not be where I started but I know where I'm going and who I'm doing it with...
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Studio 3:33 - "Peace in Creation", September 12, 2010
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