Sodonis Family Expansion

Leaving the Valley of Fear

I recently finished the book "Hinds' Feet on High Places". It is an allegory, about a girl named Much-Afraid who left the Valley of Fear that she has always known, and embarks on a journey with the Shepherd to become a new creation. Hmmm, there is much in this allegory I can relate to!

"How did you wind up adopting from Ethiopia?" someone asked me yesterday. Good question! I have never traveled abroad nor had a heart for any particular country. The love of God compels me to lay down my fears about traveling to a third world country to stay awhile. Growing up, my earthly father cautioned me against going overseas saying, "Once you're off U.S. soil our government cannot protect you." There may be some truth to that. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on governments alone. "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." Proverbs 29: 25.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? NKJV
From Hinds' Feet on High Places: "Remember also that it is always safe to obey my voice, even if it seems to call you to paths which look impossible or even crazy."(93)

Yep, there are those who call us crazy! I remember five years ago when we first embarked on the great adventure of being home educators. Many people bent my ear with disapproving, worrisome comments. My wise husband said, "If you're doing it to please them it'll never happen!" Too true. This may also be true of transracial adoption.

I'm reading a book our agency recommended called In Their Own Voices-Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda. Apparently there are both white and black people who are against adopting children of another race. Some even term it "genocide." We have no intention of raising our black son to think he is white. We are not pretenders. It will take many mentors and friends from his own race to help him know and embrace his identity. We do not jump on the bandwagon of "it takes a village to raise a child". Yet, our son will learn from fellow African Americans how to handle things like racism, things Gads & I do not know from the inside. There will come a time to give him freedom to explore his identity just as there will come a time to do that for our biological children. Whether a child was born in China, Russia, the U.S. or Ethiopia she/he is worthy of a loving family and home.

"Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love compels us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them." 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15