Perspective
Last night, our church’s adoption ministry launched a new support group for adoptive parents.
We’ve been thinking about this and praying over it for quite a while, and we finally decided that we would just get a room at the church and start meeting and whoever showed up, great. We were ready for 5 or 50.
We got four.
Including two leaders.
But as we sat together and shared experiences and talked about challenges and things that were hard and things that were joyful, I realized that God brought the people into that room that needed to be in that room.
And I know that next time we meet, God will again bring the people that need to be there.
Am I disappointed? Sure. A bit.
But I also know that this is not about me, and it’s not about launching a big fancy successful program. It’s about investing in people, and connecting, and building bonds of friendship and trust.
And that happens one-on-one.
God knows what He’s doing.
Now…if you’re anywhere in a 60-mile radius of Fort Wayne, and you’ve adopted kids ever in your life, I expect to see you on April 12 for our next meeting!
What’s happened in your life that was disappointing, but you were able to see differently? Leave a comment…
Photo Credit: Let Ideas Compete (Creative Commons)
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
This is my greatest fear for the event I’m working on–empty chairs. But I don’t want to operate (or worse, NOT operate) out of fear. Thank you for this right perspective today! We are working out of obedience–not out of needing a certain number to feel like it was worth it. Love to you, Christine. You are doing a great work!
You nailed it, Thea…Fear wants us to quit, and I’m not playing that game anymore! Thanks for leading the way, my friend!
An adoption group at our church had a similar experience. However, the word spread and more couples came together. The ones that were there really were able to build relationships and that was a big plus. Keep doing what you are doing.
Remember, God doesn’t show us what He’s doing behind the scenes sometimes for a reason. It would freak us out or we would try to stop it or change it in some way. I always keep that in the back of my mind. His timing is never my timing. However, I have to be obedient when He asks. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the last few years. If I am obedient, He will work out all of the details.
Thanks, Tammy! My prayer is that people who need this will find it. The rest is up to Him.
Christine, these things are NOT something you control. You need to just make yourself available. God’s timing is PERFECT. Our timing needs to be in line with God’s timing. Just keep making yourself AVAILABLE. It will work out!!!!!
“Being available” –Love that! The goal is to provide a safe place to talk with other people who can relate. We’ll keep putting it in the bulletin and posting it and setting up chairs…and being available.
Keep at it! Were we in your church, Jennifer and I would make your third and fourth participants.
And we would love to have you guys!!