107,918 is a number that could mean anything. It could mean the number of times my son has yelled mom in the past week while he was down with a stomach bug. It could mean the number of socks I've lost in the dryer in my lifetime. Or the number of times I've told my daughter we don't kick the doctor. Or a random number that I posted to drive you bats.
107,918 is the number of children in foster care at this time that are legally free for adoption. Most have been in the system for more than two years and over half are over 6 years old. Many of the children have special needs.
This Sunday is orphan Sunday in many churches and November is National Adoption Awareness month. This month is near and dear to my heart.
Our family, for those of you who follow us, has been directly impacted by the power of adoption. It started with one little girl in 1974.
That was me! Then in 1978 my parents decided that I needed another sibling.
Tah-Dah! One sister added through adoption. Mind you it wasn't quite that easy, but once you throw a stone into the pond a ripple effect happens.
In my life this was profound and I wanted to adopt children of my own. When my husband and I decided to adopt we took a little boy who was abused, born addicted, and not given a very good prognosis.
Marvin came into our lives like a tornado. He managed to turn everything upside down, yet I couldn't imagine life without him. Even when I wonder if I'm going to survive his childhood.
Cary Lynn came in like a hurricane.
Don't let that sweet little pink outfit fool you. That little girl came with an iron will and lungs to match. People thought we were nuts for adopting her. I lost my job yet found a piece of me that I didn't know I was missing.
We don't know the future but we do know that by stepping out in faith and love we broke cycles. And for the record, I didn't "save" these kids. We are all born with the ability to change circumstances around us for the better. It's what you choose to do with that ability that matters. For some, it's adoption. For others it may look like something totally different.
But now back to that number. 107,918. It looks like a big number, but it really isn't. There are 255,369,678 adults in the United States. So if 2,367 people stepped forward there would be no more waiting children.
It isn't easy, in fact with all the red tape and hooplah I honestly wonder at times how anyone gets adopted. But for these kids it's all worth it.
Don't want to adopt locally? You want to go global? Great! There are just as many orphans who need parents globally. I know many families who have adopted from China, India, the Ukraine, and Russia. Love doesn't have borders.
You don't want to adopt but still are interested in helping? How about fostering? There are many children who need a safe haven while their world is being shaken upside down. How about respite for a family who hasn't been able to leave their kids and have much needed couple time? Gift cards for groceries and meals for the family who lives their lives at therapies, hospitals, and doctor's offices. Offer to clean, do laundry, or even just call to check in on families. There are so many ways you can help. The only one limiting what you can do is you.
So the question becomes what are you going to do with the ability you were born with? Will you read this and just go back to your everyday life? Or will you step out of your comfort zone and use your ability to change a life? The choice is yours.
"We live in a world in we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” -Fred Rogers
