I recently read a post on another blog where a mom received a comment that boiled down to her "rescuing" her daughter from the horror that is Ethiopia. She went on to remark on a comment made about how children are better off growing up in a rich country rather than a poor one. The mom took great offense to these points and wrote a great blog entry about her reaction to it.
I think about this, too, when people tell me what a wonderful thing I did and how lucky Brynly is. I don't have as angry a reaction (although I might have, I don't know what was said to this other lady)but I certainly don't see it that way. I have written about this a bit but feel it merits some more attention.
Many people, having grown up with images of Ethiopia as a barren wasteland of drought, disease and starvation, do believe that I "saved" Brynly. I did not save her from Ethiopia. People do not need to be saved from Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a beautiful country filled with beautiful, kind people. It is a rich culture and many Ethiopians go about their daily lives working and spending time with family...living their lives. Certainly, aspects of life there are far different than life here. There are circumstances there, namely disease and poverty, that have created great need for many. The saddest part of the situation are these millions of children who are without families. Brynly was one. Together, we have made a little family. But, I did not SAVE her. Her birth family did. Someone had to lay her down near the police station(and an orphanage)with the understanding that she would be taken in and adopted. It was a supreme act of love and salvation. One I cannot imagine many here having the courage to do.
As for children being better off in a rich country rather than a poor one. Hmm. I just can't agree with that. We, arguably, live in the richest country in the world...in terms of money. However, let us look at our "orphans" here. They may have living parents. But, they are in our system because they have been abused and neglected and damaged by those that are supposed to love them the most. They are bounced around from home to home with the aim of sending them back to the people who abused and negelected them. How can they feel love while they are going through any of this?
In Ethiopia, orphans see their parents sick and dying. They may not have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. But they are loved. They are loved enough for a parent to bring them to an orphange in hopes of them finding a better life. Or wrap them in a blanket, lay them on the steps of the police department and...walk away. Can you even think of a more unselfish act? In the orphanage (at least the one I saw), they are loved and cuddled and cared for to the best of their ability. They know love at every step of their journey.
In the future, if you are inclined to pray for these children, please do not thank God that they were saved by their adoptive parents. Pray, instead, for their first families who now suffer their absence. And pray for we adoptive parents to have the wisdom to learn from Ethiopia and raise them, in some ways, as they would have.
Sermon over, thanks for your indulgence-carry on. :)
