November
is a month where we set aside time to give thanks and to celebrate adoption. I think it is fitting that National
Adoption month is celebrated around the same time as Thanksgiving. I thought I would end the month by sharing
this little story. No, I am not quite on
the “save a child” or “rescue an orphan” bandwagon. But, there are those who are and I’ve become a
whole lot more accepting of that mindset as a motivation to adopt than I used
to be. I understand it a little bit
better after two trips to China. In
reality, there is some element of rescue and I don’t say that in a “pat myself
on the back” kind of way. Fact is, these
lovely children adopted from China (and I speak collectively, not just of my
two) know a vastly different life because someone from the other side of the
world said “I can”.
These
words aren’t mine – the original story was written by Loren Eisley. Enjoy.
The Starfish Story –
One
day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy
picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching
the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?" The
youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The
surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll
die."
"Son,"
the man said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and
hundreds of starfish? You
can't make a difference!"
After
listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and
threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…"I made a
difference for that one."
And,
with a thankful heart, I tell you that my two boys have made a difference to
me. The words of a man I met in China “you
have changed their destiny”, spoken to me in a tone of deep respect, are
something I pause to reflect on every single day. Not one day goes by that I don't think about that statement. I am certain that adoption has changed
destiny for my boys but my own has been changed much more
profoundly. Thanksgiving is no longer a
day where I simply enjoy turkey and pie and think about the good things that
have happened over the past year. Don’t
misunderstand – I totally do all of that – but I have gone very “back to basics”
on what I am most thankful for. I am
thankful that I am loved and have people to love. I am all the more thankful for that since I’ve
had such a front row view to those who miss out.
As we
begin December, I wish all of you a
magical and blessed Christmas season.
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