The abundant life: An adoption story
Today Becca Lunde was gracious enough to share a transparent look at what goes on in the first month home.
We’ve been home as a family of five for about a month and a half. The transition bringing our daughter, Selah, home from China has had so many ups and downs. It’s been HARD raising three toddlers!
I’ve struggled with some depression since we’ve been home from China. If you’ve ever been on a mission trip, you probably remember how you feel when you come home. You’re invigorated and feel a little like all of the things in your real life are just meaningless after being within so much poverty. That’s a little like the way I felt after settling in from China. There are so many kids who need families so desperately. As my love grew and grew for Selah, I kept thinking about all of those kids still without the love of a family back in China, just like Selah was a few months ago. As I saw her panic if she ever started to feel a little hungry just before mealtime, I would become so sad thinking about all the times she probably went hungry. As she would grab a handful of my hair at night to make sure I was always there, I felt so sorry that she has experienced so much loss in her life. And when I see the photos of kids waiting for families, it hurts me to think of what they are going through.
Through all the difficulties that Selah has faced, she is so strong and so brave. She jumps out of bed in the morning and calls for her brothers to play. She sings and laughs and dances. She loves Tinkerbell and when I paint her toenails. She loves popsicles and French fries and peanut butter. She is our daughter, and I can’t imagine life without her. God has fought so hard for her, and she is going to do amazing things in her life. All the kids still waiting for families in China will too; they just need a family to help them get there. Sometimes people say to us, “you all are so amazing to adoptâ€. It’s quite the opposite, though. We are nothing special. We are just parents that love our kids. Jesus has gotten us through all of the rest, and He’ll get you through it, too. All of the difficulties, the paperwork, the transitions, the exhaustion, and the tears have been more than worth it.
This little girl, our daughter, is so precious.
She is a child of God, and we are so humbled that He has allowed us to be her parents.
I am not the same person I used to be. I have seen a glimpse of the sadness and trauma that so many children face on a daily basis. But, I’m glad I’m not the same person that I used to be.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see orphans a little more like He sees them:
as precious, beloved, and needing to know the love of a family.
Life after adoption is NOT easy. We have felt exhausted, alone, and doubting our parenting skills over and over again. But, I am a firm believer that as Christians, God did not bless us just so we could have a comfortable life. Jesus says in John 10:10 that The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The enemy hates adoption and he will throw in obstacles and fear and finances and anything he can to keep you from it. But, Jesus came to give us LIFE and an ABUNDANT life. I have to tell you, that Selah has given us an abundant life. She has given us a life full of joy and amazement. When she hugs her brothers and tells them that she loves them, there is truly nothing in this world that could make us happier.
If you are thinking of adoption, do it. It will be hard and sad and scary, but I promise that
your life will be abundant and your heart will be full.
We continue to receive many files for waiting children in both China and India. If adoption is on your heart please contact china@awaa.org, india@awaa.org or fill out a free pre-application to learn more.