Thursday, June 15, 2006

No news...but I'm curious about something

You should see the amount of action on the adoption internet bulletin boards these days. Roughly half of all the usually-accredited adoption agencies have lost their accreditation in the last month because the Russian government did not streamline renewals. Many people are stranded between trips and don't know when they'll get to go bring their children home. The answer from all experienced people, and an adoption attorney I talked to, is that we all just have to wait it out. A person could start over with a new agency that is currently accredited, but this wouldn't likely save time (and definitely wouldn't save money!). There are simply no hard and fast timelines with Russian adoptions.

Something I'm curious about is this: everyone I talk to is equally convinced that we will get "the" child that we are supposed to get. Someone pointed out yesterday that this delay almost certainly means that the child we bring home will not be the same one we would have brought home if we had been traveling now. And yet even he was convinced that the child we will be getting is the "right" one.

Let me be clear: I myself believe this, too. But there is a specific basis for this: I believe there is a God who has a plan that will not be thwarted, and who uses even bad things (like bureaucratic delays!) to accomplish his purpose. The prime example of this is how God used a bad thing like the killing of his Son to reconcile us to God.

Many of the people I talk to do not have this view of God. Many don't profess any belief in God at all. I am curious as to why they are convinced that there is a "right" way for things to turn out, and that "what's meant to be will happen." Maybe this is something God teaches all of us, regardless of our interest or belief in him, by his grace.

I am certainly convinced that God has a plan for our child's life, and that we will get the "right" one :) I can't wait for you all to meet this little "right" one.

1 comment:

Tammy said...

Sarah -

So nice to meet another Christian couple. We too believe our daughter is out there and we will get her in God's time. I struggle with patience and waiting for God's plan to unfold, but I know it will.

We'll be praying for you both.