The Rest of the Story

Everybody loves a good story. From the time we are kids we love listening to a good book or a grandparent reminiscing about the times of old. As a kid growing up in Iowa, my mom and dad would listen to 1040 WHO radio out of Des Moines. I remember thinking that the radio station was pretty lame because it was just a bunch of talking. But one program always got my attention; "The Rest of the Story" told by the award winning radio host Paul Harvey. Take a listen.

No matter what story he was telling; I couldn't wait to find out the rest of the story.

This reminds me of a very familiar verse when it comes to orphan care, James 1:27, you have probably heard it, but here it is...

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV)

Did you see the part of the verse I put in bold? Sometimes I feel like we use this verse, but we forget the "rest of the verse," the part in bold. Sometimes we forget that there is no adoption without loss, pain, and grief (distress). When I am reminded of this truth, it gives me more patience and compassion for my children. When I forget this reality, I find myself being impatient and short tempered. It does not take a child psychologist to figure out which one of these responses is best for my kiddos.

Michael Monroe from Empowered to Connect has written a great article entitled "Embracing the Grief of Adoption." You can read it here.

So as we move forward, let's not forget the "Rest of the Verse," but let the "Rest of the Verse" motivate us to love our kids even more.