I know there are some who don’t believe in “God things”. I myself am reluctant to over-spiritualize too much. However, as I look throughout our adoption journey, I can see God’s work in providing us with a support system and community that has become a treasure to us.
The first that comes to mind is a troop of caseworkers that we are utterly and completely blessed to know. It begins with our own caseworker. We have often told parents that when you go to an agency to pursue an adoption, you get more than a social worker. You get a friend who will become a treasured part of your family. I feel very strongly about this. If this isn’t what you’re experiencing, then get a new caseworker. Your adoption experience should be a good one in this area. Period. If you don’t “click” or connect well with your caseworker, respectfully discuss it and if that doesn’t work, request a new case worker.
It goes on to include four additional people at our agency who have become very special to us. Two of them are social workers as well, working on behalf of children daily. The third supports those efforts in a variety of ways, including interacting with families regularly, and is a delight to be around. All of these women have embraced our family; our son, in fact, is quite enthralled with one of them every time he sees her, and he enjoys them all. Through these fantastic women and one additional person in their office, we’ve been invited to speak, partner, and volunteer on planning committees. We’ve been invited into their work and we love it.
The second that comes to mind are the wonderful ladies at Komaza Hair Care. I cannot say enough about these fantastic women. Before we brought our son home more than four years ago, I began to research hair care. We don’t do chemicals in anything and we eat primarily organic food. As I looked at products for African American hair in various retail stores I was irritated to find a plethora of chemicals as well as alcohol in most of them…one of the most drying ingredients possible! Through an internet search, I found Komaza. I sent an email and was very transparent. I shared that I was a white woman adopting a brown son, and that I humbly requested some guidance in developing a hair care regimen that would help my son’s hair remain healthy. It was important to us that we let it grow until he was old enough to make his own decisions about whether to wear it in locs, clipped, braided, etc. To my surprise, within 48 hours the OWNER of the company, Rene, called my cell phone. She was so encouraging and spent a significant amount of time on the phone educating me, sharing her passions for positive, health-giving ingredients, and recommending a good regimen for Jude’s hair. That was more than five years ago and we remain very loyal to Komaza, recommending it every chance we get.
The third that comes to mind is Jude’s barber. Paul at International Profyle is exceptional. He, too, is a regular source of encouragement to us. The truth is that everyone wants to be accepted by their community in some way. The white community is not the only one we belong to. Paul has embraced our family; Jude loves to go see him and Paul is a positive role model for Jude. Paul has invited us to various events, and gives Jude delightful little treasures each Christmas when he comes for his haircut. Paul is dear to us and is a treasure to the community in which he lives and does business.
The fourth has manifested in enabling me to be an increasingly vocal advocate for orphans. God, through various people, is giving me opportunities to write and be involved in several other ways serving the adoption community.
We continue to be showered with grace and joy on our adoption journey. That isn’t an accident. We don’t know the people we know by accident. God is orchestrating blessings for us. There are many I didn’t mention, like the other adoptive parents we know, the people we remain connected with who work at or on behalf of the orphanage our son lived in, or the family members that have given us unbridled support and understanding throughout our journey. All of these are people to be thankful for. We don’t have to look hard; we only have to look up. That’s God at work.
I love you. And Jude. And your blog post(s).