The conversation was unexpected. It had nothing to do with what had or was occurring at the time. Something triggered it but like many of these conversations we will never truly understand what the instigation involved.
Mike, Lucas, Eli and myself were on the way home from a doctor's appointment, Lucas was very excited as the doctor gave him a complete release from his broken foot and he's back to full activity. We were explaining and joking that the doctor's "do anything you want" did not mean ANYTHING Lucas wanted...there are parental restrictions.
Out of the blue, Lucas says, "Can we adopt (name changed) Tim?" Tim being a much talked about, special needs boy that grew up with the boys in Zamboanga. They have talked about, worried over and prayed for this boy since they came home. Lucas was his protector, Eli was his playmate. They both understand Tim's special needs in depth and have given our family a verbal portrait of this boy.
I call him a boy, when in actuality he is several years older than Lucas. To us and to Lucas and Eli he is forever the age he was when they left the orphanage, frozen in time and their memories.
Lucas worries constantly about those left behind, those of whom he now understands will most likely not be adopted for numerous reasons. He also understands that, no we cannot adopt Tim. I think he just had to ask and that it had been weighing on him for some time.
After talking about Tim for a while, Lucas said, "Does it cost a lot of money to adopt? I want to do that when I am old enough. I need to know how much money I will need and how to adopt. You will have to show me."
This isn't the first time one or the other of the boys have said they want to adopt. Each time they mention the subject, the idea seems to be more formed. While we can't adopt "Tim" and the boys will most likely never know what became of him, the idea of "we can adopt" and "we can be a family for someone" is taking up resident in their hearts.
Have any of you out there contemplated whether or not you could adopt? I can tell you from first hand experience, a person can do a whole lot more than they ever thought possible and if you are wondering or contemplating.....make a call to an agency, make a call to an adoptive parent, start the journey and if you aren't quite at that point yet....say a prayer that the choice you end up making will be the best possible decision.....simply said....start...take the step...the leap of faith.
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