Center of Focus

Some people have said that the world only shows compassion when it relates to them. If they've experienced what you are going through, they will embrace you.  If they haven't, they can judge harshly.  *Michael and I are blessed to have an enormous support system.  Our church is filled with incredible people who continuously pray for us.  They don't ask about the adoption out of necessity or politeness.  They ask because they genuinely want to know.  We have a group of friends outside of church who also show support and love and have done so in many ways.  We are extremely grateful.

So has this process become my entire center of focus?  Is it all I think about?  Do I just spend my days staring at pictures of infants and toddlers while weeping silently?  No I do not.

On any given day, I work out of my home office on various projects.  I am the webmaster and newsletter editor for our church.  When not working on that, I'm cleaning or doing laundry or cooking.  We go to the gym three times a week.  We go to church each Sunday and are often greeters, snack bringers or worship leaders.  Every weekend we go to my mother-in-law's for lunch and help her with any chores she may have.  We run errands.  We go hiking. 

When not doing any of these things of course I think about our child to be.  How could I not?  Does a pregnant woman think of the child growing inside of her?   Adoptive parents don't always know "when" or "where", but they think of that child with as much love and hope.

Sometimes when we are sad or longing for something, it makes other people uncomfortable.  I understand that but I also think compassion is the most important trait a person can have.  As of late, we have certainly learned where that compassion will come from, and Michael and I will embrace that when they days are long and sometimes difficult.




*Name has been changed to protect identity.