If you’re married to a technologically savvy man, this is one question you very well could hear.
“Could I twitter when you go into labor and nothing happens for awhile?”
This is the question Jason half-jokingly asked me last night. I thought it was rather considerate of him to ask me for permission. I think that’s okay, especially because I know he’s not the type to go overboard with that sort of stuff nor will he miss a moment because of it. Is that weird that I think it’s okay? Maybe it’s because I’m such a laid-back and understanding wife. Yes, that must be it!
Last night, actually, only a few hours ago, I witnessed two children arrive to the airport to be united with their forever families. The children were brought by the escorts, and they all endured a long travel, with the last flight delaying the moment of their union. Everything seems stalled when something so important is at hand, doesn’t it? As we were waiting for the children to arrive, I saw one of the parents standing there without saying much, and I saw another fidgeting like crazy in such anxiety and anticipation. They all had their hearts on their sleeves, hoping that they would finally meet their child and not wait another moment.
It was very quiet at the airport, being close to 3 am and all, and we found out that the babies had arrived at another gate. The parents and Jason and I walked speedily to the baggage claim, but I knew, in their hearts, they wanted to run but was keeping their composure. Of course, their hearts were already there.
And then, at last, the moment they were waiting for.
They each walked to their child and waited eagerly for the escorts to hand over the baby so they could hold, touch, talk to, kiss, and embrace their child. The children began to cry at the strange and overwhelming environment, and they grieved. With their tiny voices, and little droplets of tears, they grieved. It was incredible to see that they could sense that it was a stressful time.
Knowing that those children were abandoned or relinquished, for whatever the circumstances their birth parents were in, and for them to be received into a family to be loved, reminded me of the love that God has for us. We may be, or may feel that we were, abandoned by our earthly parent(s), but our Heavenly Father will never leave us. “In love, he predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ..” (Ephesians 1:5). Those parents exemplified the love of Christ through the act of adoption.
All the while, I was attempting to talk to the parents, take some pictures for them, and make sure everyone was doing okay, but it was such an inexplicable moment for me. I expected this to affect me, but it affected me in an unexpected way. I think when you experience another life being changed in such a powerful way, it undoubtedly changes you.
You know how when you are about to go on a vacation and you’re packing.. you get filled with this excitement, thinking about getting away, and relaxing? I love that feeling.
We got back home late last night, and we unloaded some things out of the car, washed up, and got into our really warm (we have an electric heating blanket), plush, comfortable bed. And you know that feeling when, after being away from home for sometime, you climb onto bed and you close your eyes and exhale a long “Ahhhh”? I love that feeling!
Last Friday, for our 4 year anniversary, Jason and I decided to go to the Aquarium. I was struck with a child-like wonder as we walked through the aquarium. I had been to other aquariums but I was once again amazed to see the different shapes and sizes of fish. I felt small, and that wasn’t such a bad feeling.
