Adoption and parents

While I've been on my rotations, a little baby was given up for adoption.
I can't imagine what it must be to give your child away. It cannot be easy to carry a baby for 9 months only to relinquish rights to that part of you to someone else for whatever the reason. It's not easy for the child either. They will wonder as all children do - who am I? where do I belong? what is my story? Do my parents love me?
I can't fathom the feelings of parents who get a call informing them they have a child to suddenly care for. They don't have several months to prepare and get used to the idea. Their plans change dramatically. Suddenly they are responsible for a baby and their hopes and dreams of a family take shape.

I've been fortunate to have very loving parents. They have their faults, no one is perfect, but they have done an incredible job raising my sisters and me.
I've also been even more blessed to have other examples of wonderful moms and dedicated dads in my life. It's surreal watching as people my age have kids and start their own families. It's awesome to have so many role models in case the day comes that I have children of my own.
What makes a good mom or dad? There are so many different ways to raise kids. It's not a job for the faint of heart. It's a lifelong commitment to selfless love and care.

All families have some degree of dysfunction. It is especially disheartening to see it in action, but it makes me appreciate what I have more.

As I think about adoption, I am reminded of what Paul rights in his letters about our adoption in Christ. It is astounding that we are able to approach God as a loving father who sacrifices himself for our sake.
Romans 8:14-17
 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. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
 

What culture shock can teach you about love

Culture shock is defined as the anxiety and feelings associated with people operating within a different culture. People tend to go through three stages: honeymoon, disintegration, and adjustment phases. Everyone handles it differently. Personally, in Argentina I haven't felt the honeymoon. I'm still wrestling with embracing the culture these days. I'm not convinced that "culture shock" is the ultimate culprit, but it does explain some of my feelings of frustration and homesickness.

As I struggle in this process, it's showed me a lot about who I am and taught me a lot about my own culture that I usually didn't give much thought to.
I value efficiency. I value independence. I define success by how well I do something--results/achievement.

Argentina is not very efficient. This week I waited in line for 30 minutes just so someone could tell me I was waiting in the wrong area. If someone could have directed me sooner or had there been a sign, it would have saved me a lot of time. Argentina is very different, that's just one tiny example.

Ok so where does love come in?
I heard somewhere someone say,

"Love is inefficient."

They have something there.
Love is a process. It desires what is best. Love is not saying, "hi, how are you?" and walking by. Love is accepting me wholeheartedly when I fail. Love is genuine. Love is in a laugh that lifts you up. It's not coercing. Love involves risking and depending on another person to hold your heart gently. Love is lavish. Everyone needs it and looks for it. Some find it. Many don't understand it.

Miracles

I'm convinced that miracles are all around us. We just flippantly blow past them because they have become so routine. Inhalation, heart beats, neurons firing--wonderful miracles we don't even notice because we're literally not conscious of them.

The biggest miracle in my mind is love.
I'll be thorough and give you a better idea of what I'm referring to because that word is so jam-packed with meaning.
The Greeks were smart and had more than one word to describe the different ways we use "love." They were able to differentiate between things like: I love running, I love my family, I love icecream, and "I love you."
The love I'm talking about is the unconditional, I'd-take-a-bullet-for-you-type of devotion and compassion. It feels like a warm, shielding blanket and send shivers down the spine even while lounging by a fireplace. You can feel it in the pit of your stomach. If this love had a taste, it would be chocolate... Wait a minute, I'm probably confusing it for a different type of love, because I wouldn't give my life for chocolate. Some days I might kill for it though. ;) (Side note: I have a silver ring I wear on the third finger of my left hand with the inscription of this Greek word for love. It reminds me of the importance of loving and being loved this way.)

Love can make a grown man weep. Not many things can do that! It's a powerful force capable of producing immense pain. It tears you up. And it makes you whole.

Love is mysterious and indescribable. I do not understand how it works. How do two people decide together: I care about you so much that I will do anything for you even so far as I will commit my life to you until the very end? Love is knowing a person intimately and remaining by their side. Why? It doesn't make any logical sense! You can't study it. You can't contain it. You can't live without it.

Love brings life and joy. It's amazing!

Moms display love remarkably. Particularly if they are a "good" mom, they love their children with an undeserved love. I mean they care for us 24/7 when all we can do is sleep and eat and cry.

But, I've also seen it in couples. After all, I did see 4 weddings in 14 days just last month. Love is beautiful. A mystery--even the apostle Paul agrees with me. (Ephesians 5)

Love is passionate and hard. It permeates our life and consumes our desires. We love love. We are obsessed with it. We can't escape it.

"If I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing."
"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13