June 27, 2006 3:35 PM
Sweet Baby James Update/ Thoughts on Adoption
Well, evidently there are a lot of people interested in Sweet Baby James!
I just spoke to the receptionist at A Helping Hand and they have been inundated with calls and emails - over 300 in one day. They are somewhat overwhelmed at the moment, and have released a mass mailing, but do intend to wade through the responses as quickly as they can.
The good news is that because of the enormous interest shown in him, James's file will not be sent back to China at the end of the week, but a committee will be put together to begin the process of reviewing applications.
If you are a reader whose interest was sparked by James' story, perhaps your family will eventually be the one blessed to receive him into your loving protection. If so, I hope to hear from you, because I'd love to write the story.
But if you are not the family God intended for James, perhaps he was trying to capture your attention and give you a nudge in that direction. Perhaps it's not the first nudge. But perhaps it will be the last - either because you will heed the call and do what you need to set out on the journey of adoption, or because God will stop nudging (Have It Your Way!) and turn to someone else.
The folks at A Helping Hand are hopeful - and I am too - that perhaps the eagerness shown to meet James' need for a family will spill over onto some of the other special needs children waiting for homes. Though there is only one James, you can see other sweet little ones here.
So ultimately there may be more than one happy ending to this story. I hope there are many, many more.
If for any reason you feel called to adopt but some piece seems to be missing, remember that God doesn't call the equipped - he equips the called. He may be waiting for a full expression of your willingness. Money can be an obstacle, but there are some resources if you look around. A Helping Hand offers some information at their site. I think churches should support adoptive parents the way they support short-term missions - maybe your church would take up a collection.
Two of our three adopted sons with Down syndrome were united with us through Catholic Charities, which charged us $50. each. That's right - fifty dollars. Catholic Charities in California - and probably other states as well - completely subsidizes adoption of special needs children (and being Catholic is not a requirement). There are also adoption subsidies to assist families who want to adopt special needs children (from the US) but for whom the additional financial burden would be too great. Remember, though international adoptions are trendy right now, there are plenty of children waiting to be adopted here at home and support in place for families who will take on that responsibility.
I'm serious. If you are feeling called to adopt, it's time to take the next step and start overcoming any perceived or imagined obstacles to your being united with the child - or children- God intended to be part of your family.
Adoption is a journey and adventure.
As in the Steven Curtis Chapman song, The Great Adventure, which has started humming in the back of my mind as I write this:
Started out this morning in the usual way Chasing thoughts inside my head of all I had to do today Another time around the circle try to make it better than the lastI opened up the Bible and I read about me
Said I'd been a prisoner and God's grace had set me free
And somewhere between the pages it hit me like a lightning bolt
I saw a big frontier in front of me and I heard somebody say "let's go"!CHORUS
Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace
Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other - this is The Great AdventureCome on get ready for the ride of your life
Gonna leave long faced religion in a cloud of dust behind
And discover all the new horizons just waiting to be explored
This is what we were created for(Chorus)
We'll travel over, over mountains so high
We'll go through valleys below
Still through it all we'll find that
This is the greatest journey that the human heart will ever see
The love of God will take us far beyond our wildest dreamsYeah... oh saddle up your horses... come on get ready to ride
Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife had already raised a family of their own and were on the verge of Empty Nestdom when they felt called to adopt. They have since adopted three little girls from China. The change in his heart that springs up from his song definitely resulted in actions that spoke louder than any words.
This is what it means to be loved by our Heavenly Father. We are all adopted heirs. We were also created in His image - and the opportunity to embrace a child in adoption is an opportunity to experience and reflect on a small scale the tremendous love He has shown to us. Not because we need to earn our way to heaven, but because like Mary, who broke her alabaster jar to anoint her blessed Savior, we just can't help but break our own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pssst! If you linked to my original story on James, please follow up by linking to this one as well! Many thanks for spreading the word!
Posted in Adoption, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Mothering | Permalink
Comments
SOOOOOO excited to hear this! I've been praying for little James and the family God is bringing him home to soon!
Posted by: Laura | June 27, 2006 3:56 PM
Thanks for getting the follow up information, I know alot of people around the adoption blogsphere are talking about him. I too hope that his story and situation will encourage more people to consider adoption, especially special needs.
blessings,
Amie
Posted by: Amie | June 27, 2006 4:46 PM
thanks for the James update.
Joy
Posted by: Joy | June 27, 2006 6:40 PM
I would also add that even if finances seem to be a stumbling block many agencies work through that. Another option is to look into local child welfare agencies in your county that you live in.
We foster-adopted our youngest child and all fees were waived and because he was a special needs adoption, he receives a monthly stipend until he is 18 years of age. It isn't a huge amount of money but it did make it possible for me to afford to stay home his first three years of life (critical with his multiple medical issues) and now it pays for his daycare costs so I can work three days a week.
Our son's placement worker informed us that often these are the hardest kids to place permanently and often end up spending most of their childhood in foster care rather than a permanent home and family.
There are so many children out there just waiting for there family. If anyone at all is even considering this I say go for it. The blessing you receive are so overwhelmingly wonderful.
Posted by: laura | June 27, 2006 7:01 PM
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!! I have been getting on the adoption site every day to see if there had been a "hold" placed on him. I have been praying so hard for Baby James. Thank you soooo much Barbara for updating him! I will be so happy to report this as well on my own blog!!!!!
*runs off singing "our God is an awesome God....."*
Posted by: ~Kayla~ | June 28, 2006 10:03 AM
I'm so happy to read this. What a great way to start my day!
Posted by: Amy | June 28, 2006 11:47 AM
Oh Barbara, we would have taken him in a heartbeat! Wow! I'm just now reading about this.
Posted by: Holly | June 28, 2006 2:20 PM
We'll take him and make him our own! :)
We would love to have another child. And recently my dh has brought up adoption a lot.
Posted by: Sharon | June 28, 2006 5:11 PM
Oh thank the Lord! I will continue to pray for this little one. We share the same birthday! I am single and working, but maybe some day this call will be a part of my life. God Bless you all.
Posted by: Ingrid | June 30, 2006 1:19 AM
So glad to hear about baby James. My bil and sil adopted a blind daughter from China. She is such a joy to the entire extended family.
Posted by: Liz | June 30, 2006 8:57 PM
When you talked about being called to adopt, and not letting obstacles stand in your way, but to trust that God will provide a way around those obstacles I was wondering if that was meant for me. When you mentioned the "adoption adventure" I knew you were. My husband and I are just starting our adoption adventure, (this is how I have referred to it from the beginning). We are still figuring out how to work around our obstacles, but thank you for the reminder to Trust God!
Posted by: Cindy Elliott | December 11, 2009 12:38 AM
