Let's Get Real, Shall We?

I like to believe that most people think I'm a nice person.  I want to be honest and good. I try to be a friend to all.  I try to 'keep myself and all that I believe in' -- that's what my daddy told me when I left for college. :)  Ryan says I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and "what you see is what you get" with me. {I hope that's a good thing!? :)}  But Ryan will also tell you that I'm the most feisty, stubborn person that he knows.

And so, when it comes to advocating for kids, I'm as real and raw and bold as they get.  And I'm thinking that he's referring to some of these times in which I must have let my feisty really shine through.  (wink!)  I have a hard time holding my tongue on some things.  Like for example, when we've passed a car with babies in the back seat and the adult(s) in the front seat are smoking with no windows rolled down.  Ryan loves it (read with sarcasm) when I roll my window down, point to the backseat babies, and make choking gestures and shout at them to put out their cigarettes.  He also loved the time I walked up to a stranger in a parking lot because I noticed that her very young toddler was climbing around the back seat (while the car was driving), completely not buckled up -- not even a carseat in the car.  And so, when I asked her if she needed help getting a carseat for her child, and her response was less-than-ideal... as in "Scr*# you, *&%$#".... I used my "Mandated Reporter" title to call her in.

Now please don't misunderstand me.  I don't enjoy being a toughie, I don't jump to conclusions and flip out on people.  I don't lose my cool easily.  BUT, I make no qualms when it comes to taking care of children.

Earlier this week our adoption agency shared some information in regards to children in our world.  The information angers me.  It pierces my gut and makes my head spin.  It makes me realize that there's more I should be doing.  In mid-December the U.S Government released the following:

• 400 million children live in extreme poverty 

• 7 million children will die this year before their 5th birthday 

• 135 million orphans, of which 17-18 million have no living parents 

• 1.8 million children are involved in sex trafficking 

• 5.4 million children are involved in forced labor

And from another blog in which I love to immerse myself (www.aholyexperience.com), Ann Voskamp shared this week that "if only 8 percent of Christians would care for just one more child, there wouldn’t be any orphans or needy children left."  

One of the most common questions we receive from people about our adoption is something along the lines of  "How much does that cost?" or comments shared such as "Oh I bet that's expensive...." Such an awkward feeling.  How in the world should I respond to that??  When I was pregnant with Johnathan and Tenleigh I was never asked what I expected my hospital bills to be.  Sometimes I believe that it's coming from people that are genuinely interested in learning more about adoption.  But coming from my dental hygienist? Not so much.  So here's the real and raw of my personal feelings in regards to adoption cost.  

I am sad to hear that less than 5% of people that consider adoption actually follow through with it because of cost.   I know that it is not easy to pull together all the needed funds; and Satan is very good at planting seeds of doubt and fear.  However, I am thankful that our adoption fees are being used to care for the children in the orphanages, pay for the orphanage staff, etc.  Must we really put a "cost" on love? Jesus paid the ultimate for us.  We have already been completely bought and paid for.  Ryan and I are adopting because 1) We knew we wanted to grow our family 2) God was very clear that this was the way He wanted us to grow, and 3) I feel a sense of responsibility -- as a mother, and as a Christian, to DO SOMETHING about this orphan crisis.  

I love Voskamp's reminder in her January 23rd post: "Love is the only thing that ever changed me — and Love is the only thing that will ever change the world — and love is the thing that is the real radical."

I will be praying for that "real radical" right where I am... until I am leaving on a jet-plane, straight to my Baby Opia.  And Lord help me never to lose my "real radical" upon return.

"Loving first and foremost Christ. Loving the people here, loving the people there, just loving everywhere.  Love has no limits and love can’t be contained and when we have a radical love for God, God takes care of the location of where that love goes."  - Ann Voskamp

Amen to that!