January 13, 2012

Orphan: The Unfair Name

I have four siblings with a different skin color.  And I'm OK with that.
I have four siblings who speak a different language.  And I'm OK with that.
I have four siblings who have lived in America for three weeks.  And that makes me happy.
Adoption is kind of a crazy thing.  It's hard and it takes work.  But the results are so beautiful.  Adoption - it's an oxymoron.

One event, one fact, one person can change lives in the matter of a second.  For The Four, one person meant a whole new life.  It meant and means a different future than the original one.  You see, we're Plan B.  This new forever family that they have didn't even know they existed until several months ago.

Just think.  Close your eyes and imagine.  At the edge of a valley lives a family.  A small family, working to survive, but happy.  The children love their parents and the parents love their children.  Can you see this family?  Now, picture a map of the world.  How many of those families are there on that map?  How many of those families live in this world?  But, one day or maybe over a few months, that family is changed, ruined.  Their future is bleak and only a few options remain.  What would you do?

Life might not be fair, but being an orphan isn't.  Living without a family - it isn't right.  
There is a side to my siblings that I will never know.  Their first steps, their first loose tooth, the clothes they wore, the places they saw and things they did.  Unless they speak about it or remember those things, I'll never know.  Those things, they're supposed to be remembered - by a mother and a father.  But they won't.  We missed twelve years of a boy's life; twelve very important years.  We missed a lot of years.  No.  Actually, we didn't even think about those years.  When these children were born, they weren't even in our thoughts.

There are 147 million orphans in this world.  One hundred forty seven million.  Do you know how many that is?  That's an unfathomable amount.  In this house live just four.  My family didn't even make a dent in that number.  They need you.  They need all of us.  Being an orphan isn't fair and ignoring their cry isn't either.  Please.  If you can.  Change a life for one of the 147,000,000.  

Your family might be Plan B, but any plan is better than none.  Orphan.  It's an unfair name to place on a child.  It's like a condemnation.  But God.  But you.  Together, you can change that name.  You can change a life.  

21 comments:

  1. Wow, this is beautiful, Olivia. Thank you.

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  2. the most beautifully written, and inspiring thing i've ever read. thank you.

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  3. this.is.amazing, Olivia!

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  4. I really appreciate this post, orphans aren't often remembered.

    I probably know far less about them than you or anyone else, but I'm not sure that your idea that "being an orphan isn't fair" is quite valid. Our God is sovereign and knows that these kids will become orphans, and he's made them orphans because he knows that that is what is absolutely best for them- long term. Maybe I'm taking this out of context?

    I would love to adopt four siblings, even though I don't know what the rest of my family would think :)

    Wonderful post!

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  5. i love this. seriously. i think that this truly changed my perspective on orphans. seriously. :))
    -jocee <3

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  6. so inspiring and thought provoking. just beautiful!

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  7. My family has read many times in the Bible that in your lifetime God tells you that it is vital to adopt. He doesn't just randomly call you to adoption, but He requires it to actually be a good Christian. To take care of the poor and house the orphans. Yes, it can be placed apon your heart at a certain time, but we, ALL OF US are required to do it and should.
    Our family has been sponsering many children through World Vision and Compassion, but we are seriously talking about adoption. Although the "trend" is now to adopt baby girls (i don't know why) the most needed age is from age 4-10.

    Sorry this comment was red carpet (red carpet means long in my vocab :)) and harsh but i agree with you in every word even though i haven't gone through it, we soon will be!
    Thank you Olivia!!!
    Love and blessings,
    Meghan

    www.amsistersinchrist.blogspot.com

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  8. this is beautiful. I know in my experience, sometimes people almost look at me sympathetically like, "Oh, you were an orphan, you were abandoned" but it was actually a wonderful WONDERFUL thing being adopted, and a reflection of our salvation with the Lord...being adopted into our heavenly family.
    adoption isn't a negative but a beautiful blessing. :)

    praying for your beautiful family!
    love in Christ,
    Grace
    come stop for tea @ gracesgardenwalk.blogspot.com

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  9. this is so sweet. It's such a blessing that you and your family can be the hope in a world of hopelessness for a small number of those orphans. God is really using you to show them the light; and others, too -- through them.

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  10. I love this! And I am seriously considering adopting a long ways down the road after I'm married. Thank you for the challenge for us all to give more of our gifts and talents and abilities for those who need them most.

    In Christ,
    Jess

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  11. Beautiful post. You and your family are a HUGE blessing to those four kids.

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  12. Wow Olivia. This is incredible. I was getting chills reading it. Those children are so blessed to have your family.

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  13. amazing. thank you.

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  14. loved this post soo much! and i tagged you in a post on my blog! someactualities.blogspot.com

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  15. love this, Olivia! it's beautiful! thank you!

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  16. This is so true. Thanks for posting this, it's really a good message to me and others! And beautiful pics! I'll be praying for you and your family! :)

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  17. Very good post :) Beautiful pictures and so true :) Oh, and Olivia, your blog is awesome! <3

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  18. Olivia, that is so beautiful! Thank you!

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  19. Beautiful photos to go with such a beautiful story.

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