God's Greatest Gifts

When asked about God's greatest gifts many people will refer to their children if they have them. Many Christians will refer to Jesus. Others may refer to other loved ones in their life.   Adoptive parents and especially adoptive parents whose children are born in China sometimes have the special gift of meeting the foster parents of their children. Today Wim and I were very blessed and humbled to meet two very loving, giving and caring people who loved Clara Rose unconditionally and completely for the past 1 ½ years.   I think I have mentioned before, either here or on Shutterfly that this adoption is very different from when we adopted Josie. Josie lived in an orphanage her entire life and while it was a very good orphanage, it was still an orphanage. We were certain that we were giving her a better life full of love that she would likely not ever know living in an orphanage.   In looking through the photo album we were given for Clara Rose, we realized she had been living in a loving home with foster parents who clearly cared for her a great deal. The certainty of what we were doing by adopting her and giving her a better life was not there. I know that I felt guilty.   Having met with her foster parents, who were extremely gracious and genuine in their feelings for her, we feel better. These wonderful people came to our hotel where Wim and I took turns meeting with them and talking with them for a bit over two hours.    What do you say to someone who loved and cared for your child for most of her life knowing that she would likely be adopted and not in their lives forever?   Thanks?   Shie Shie (Mandarin for thanks)?   Doesn't quite cover it, does it?   It is a strange and wonderful thing to share a child and the love of a child with another family who lives on the other side of the world. How does that happen? In my opinion, only by the hand of God and we feel extremely blessed.   Our family has expanded by adopting Clara Rose, not just by adding her to our family, but also by adding to our extended family, her foster family, for whom, everyone has agreed to stay in close contact in the years to come.