Hope

Hope...
How can one look into the eyes of a child and not see hope. To have a family is confirming that you have hope. To bring a child into this world you must have hope that the world will be a good and kind place for that child to live. You have hope that your child will be a positive impact on the world. You hope for nothing but good things for your child. Adopting a child really confirms the hope that you feel. To adopt, you make a conscience decision to grow your family. You are confirming that you have hope in the future. Grandchildren have this amazing ability to inspire hope too.

Abate and Fantu will be baptized this coming Saturday. What a wonderful time to reaffirm our hope for them and the path that they will take in life. What do we hope for them? Happiness, that no matter what path they choose that it will lead to happiness. Security, that they will feel secure not just financially but emotionally. We also hope that they find comfort in their religious faith. We hope that they will be healthy and safe. Abate's hope for the future is simple - to be a soccer star. Fantu a famous singer! They dream of big houses and nice cars. Fantu wants to have money to adopt lots of children from Ethiopia. That makes me feel good, because It makes me think that she must feel that adoption has been positive for her. How reassuring it is to have dreams and hope for the future.

Last year when picking up Abate and Fantu from the Kidane Mihret Children's home I met so many children filled with the hope that they too would soon get a family. To look into their eyes when they ask you to please help find them a family. The hope that maybe they would be next. I also saw the tears of those that would not get a family. Some were getting to old to be adopted, some had other issues. It was so difficult to see these children that had lost hope. The sadness in their eyes, the uncertainty of the years ahead. What does the future hold for them and so many more children like them?

Sometimes our hopes are simple. I may hope that the family will enjoy a new recipe I'm trying. Hoping that the kids will go to bed easily tonight. Hoping that Abate does well at his track meet. Hoping that Alan makes it safely home. Sometimes our hopes and dreams are one and the same. I think that is often true for children. It is such a joy when your children can dream big and to know that they can achieve those dreams. To take that step from hope to faith that it is possible.

Faith, hope...
Love