New Year, New Hope

Happy New Year!

Mother and Child, Ceramic by Woodrow Nash. Captures my desires...

The other day, our adoption social worker asked whether the holiday was difficult, entering it still childless. Truth be told, I wondered whether it would be any more difficult than previous holidays, now that we had tasted the short-lived joy of holding a baby in our arms. As it turns out, it wasn't difficult, not at all. It was baby-filled, and thus joy-filled, because we got to hang out with our friends and families babies. I came back to Minnesota feeling rejuvenated, with my hope re-ignited. I, and we, continue to believe, to hope that we shall soon be holding a baby of our own in our hands. How God chooses to make that a reality remains to be seen...

A second source of hope re-ignited for me came because of watching how our friends and family, and even a few strangers, had responded so generously to our request for financial support towards our adoption goals. We do not take any of that for granted, whether 20 dollars or 200. Moreover, we are so appreciative of all those who are praying with and for us near and far. Our God is faithful, eventually, these prayers will be answered, and what a celebration that will be!

As I was preparing to write this post, I looked over the blog and realized the failed adoption post has been read more than 700 times! Evidently, there are many others out there who probably go to the internet looking for hope, trying to find out whether they are the only ones experiences failed placements or disruptions. We are not alone, and my hope with this blog has been that it would be a source of hope (yes, I used hope twice in one sentence...).

Finally, as this new year dawns all fresh and such, it has been 9 months, almost 10 since the disrupted adoption. As I was sharing some of our story with my classes (that we have no children but are waiting to adopt...), one of the students came to see me afterwards to chat. She asked how long we'd been waiting, I told her 9 months. Her words, "Don't give up Dr Faith, my parents waited 9 years to adopt me." There, you have it,  hope re-ignited...

Oh, That I migtht have my request, 

That God would grant what I hope for

What strength do I have that I should still hope?

What prospects, that I should be patient? 

 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

So, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess

For God who promised is faithful

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for

and assurance about what we do not (yet) see

 So, here I am. Here we are, waiting and hoping.

Its a new year, here's to new hope. 

Won't you wait and hope with us? 

(Job 6:8, 11; Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 10:23; 11:1)