Life Lessons
As summertime days begin to wrap up and the coming school year unfolds, I’m often reminded that children aren’t the only people who are spending their days learning new things. No, life presents new ideas and lessons every day, and for those who adopt, wonderful learning opportunities are in store.
Anyone who chooses to adopt chooses to have their world expanded, in every area from love and humility to honor and patience. Suddenly, ordinary people are given a great privilege; the privilege of becoming the primary role models for a child. They are given the unique gift of bettering a life, a life with a future that may have otherwise looked bleak. In return, a child puts his delicate trust and love in the hands of these parents, whose lives will be impacted forevermore.
For those who choose to adopt internationally, the life lessons gained are even more numerous. Parents not only gain insight into viewing the world through a child’s eyes, but also get an inside look at a culture completely different from their own. As a child grows older, many parents return to the child’s birth country with him or her, experiencing a culture that brings as much fresh insight as the child himself. Some parents even celebrate holidays or incorporate aspects of the child’s culture into their family’s life in America, thus bringing a worldly understanding to themselves and their communities.
While adults may leave the schoolbooks and homework behind, life is a wonderful journey of continuous learning. Making the choice to adopt during this journey not only brings hope and optimism to a child’s life, but is a monumental decision in the life of any adult. This adult is a parent. And if a child can ask a question even a wise man cannot answer, a parent will learn every day of his life.
This month in our newsletter, discover the many ways life has presented invaluable lessons for parents and children of AAI through the decision to adopt. Discover how you can become involved in future adoptions, two new programs AAI is offering, and how futures are being broadened and brightened, one child and parent at a time.
Best Wishes,
